Betting Blog
11/8 West Indies to complete comeback
West Indies levelled their series with New Zealand in comfortable fashion in the second Test and now head to Barbados for the decider. The are 11/8 to win the match and complete the comeback.
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-Jun-2014
West Indies levelled their series with New Zealand in comfortable fashion in the second Test and now head to Barbados for the decider. They are 11/8 to win the match and complete the comeback.
The Windies' seamers hit their straps in the second Test, it was a team effort with the wickets shared around, and can look forward to Bridgetown which traditionally has been a quick wicket with assistance for the pace bowlers.
New Zealand showed their vulnerability against pace with a cheap first innings in the second Test and they don't have pace of their own to benefit from in Barbados. Get behind West Indies at 11/8.
Full postSurrey 10/1 for NatWest Blast glory
Surrey have made a bright start to the new NatWest T20 Blast and sit handily placed for qualification after the opening few rounds of matches. 10/1 is a big price for Surrey to win the tournament and looks inviting.
ESPNcricinfo staff
12-Jun-2014
Surrey have made a bright start to the new NatWest T20 Blast and sit handily placed for qualification after the opening few rounds of matches. 10/1 is a big price for Surrey to win the tournament and looks inviting.
Surrey have played a game fewer than most of their South Group rivals and their cricket has been better than their won two-lost two record suggests. They should have won at Hove before smart victories against Somerset and Middlesex; losing to Essex is no disgrace.
Jason Roy is one of only eight players to have made over 200 runs already in the tournament and with Kevin Pietersen offering some extra star quality, Surrey won't be short on runs. Their bowling attack has performed well with options in the pace and spin departments. Double figures about Surrey to win the NatWest T20 could look very generous in a month's time.
Full postJordan to blast Sri Lanka away 100/30
The first Test of the summer sees England field several new faces against Sri Lanka, Chris Jordan is set to be one of them and he has the power to blow Sri Lanka away. Back him at 100/30 to be England's top bowler at Lord's.
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-Jun-2014
The first Test of the summer sees England field several new faces against Sri Lanka, Chris Jordan is set to be one of them and he has the power to blow Sri Lanka away. Back him at 100/30 to be England's top bowler at Lord's.
Obviously swing will have a part to play but Lord's is often a solid batting pitch and if the weather is good, conditions may not hand James Anderson or Stuart Broad too much help. Jordan has extra pace and aggression and that could make him England's chief threat.
There is experience in the Sri Lankan order against the swinging ball, particularly Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, but they all remain vulnerable to pace and bounce, Jordan can generate plenty so back him at 100/30.
Full postKP back to blast Surrey to win 4/5
Surrey have been in superb form at the start of the NatWest T20 Blast and have Kevin Pietersen returning for their next game against Essex. 4/5 is a tight price but Surrey are a strong gamble to take this one.
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Jun-2014
Surrey have been in superb form at the start of the NatWest T20 Blast and have Kevin Pietersen returning for their next game against Essex. 4/5 is a tight price but Surrey are a strong gamble to take this one.
Pietersen didn't exactly light up the IPL but remains a player to draw a crowd and is a much-needed box office name for the T20 Blast. He will add firepower to an already dangerous Surrey line up with Jason Roy going well at the top of the order.
But it's with the ball that Surrey have most impressed. They should have won their first match down at Hove but clinched the deal in impressive fashion both at Taunton and against Middlesex at home. They have carried the form of last season - when they reached the final - into 2014 and are 4/5 to beat Essex.
Full postJayawardene to lead Lankans at 4/1
It's been a topsy-turvey series for both the England and Sri Lanka batsmen but Mahela Jayawardene has looked in control, if without the scores to prove it, and he is 4/1 to be Sri Lanka's top batsman in the fourth ODI at Lord's.
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-May-2014
It's been a topsy-turvey series for both the England and Sri Lanka batsmen but Mahela Jayawardene has looked in control, if without the scores to prove it, and he is 4/1 to be Sri Lanka's top batsman in the fourth ODI at Lord's.
While his team-mates were falling around him at The Oval, Jayawardene was the man keeping his side in the run-chase with a composed innings, a silly run-out followed at Durham, but at Old Trafford among the carnage he spent the longest time at the crease and played the swinging ball well.
One of the most beautiful batsmen in the world, Jayawardene has the experience in England to excel and has so far in this series coped with conditions very well. He's the man to back at Lord's at 4/1.
Full post3/1 Kulasekara Sri Lanka's main weapon
The ability of Nuwan Kulasekara was never in doubt but he gave a fine reminder of his bowling ability at Chester-le-Street and is now 3/1 to be Sri Lanka's best bowler in the third ODI at Old Trafford.
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-May-2014
The ability of Nuwan Kulasekara was never in doubt but he gave a fine reminder of his bowling ability at Chester-le-Street and is now 3/1 to be Sri Lanka's best bowler in the third ODI at Old Trafford.
Kulasekara's nagging seamers, at decent pace, are made for English conditions and he produced a beauty of an opening spell to help demolish England at Durham by removing both opening batsmen.
He is a genuine swinger of the ball and has found success all over the world. Given some help from bowler-friendly English grounds he becomes one of the top ODI bowlers in world cricket and should be backed to prove so again at Old Trafford.
Full postBack Ballance for top bat at 4/1
ESPNcricinfo staff
24-May-2014
Gary Ballance was one of a number of impressive performances from new-era England in Thursday's first ODI at The Oval and he can be backed at 4/1 to be England's top batsman in the second.
After a positive start to the season in the County Championship, Ballance showed poise and confidence in top-scoring for England at The Oval. He looks an ideal type for No. 3 with the ability to combine touch and power.
Ballance also dealt well with Sri Lank's spin threat and there could be more of that to come if the tourists choose to play two spinners at Durham. But get behind Ballance to lead England's innings at 4/1
Full postSri Lanka 11/10 to triumph again
Sri Lanka are the first visitors to England this summer and they represent high-class opposition in great form and they can be backed at 11/10 to win the five-match one-day series
ESPNcricinfo staff
21-May-2014
Sri Lanka are the first visitors to England this summer and they represent high-class opposition in great form and they can be backed at 11/10 to win the five-match one-day series.
England are a side rebuilding after a winter of torment and questions marks remain over the captaincy of Alastair Cook and the make-up of their bowling attack, particularly at the death.
Sri Lanka meanwhile have a quality line-up full of form after their unbeaten Asia Cup campaign and triumph at the World T20. They welcome back both Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara to their squad for this series. They also have the seam bowlers to thrive in English conditions so side with Sri Lanka.
Full postFinch to blast Yorks to T20 title 11/1
Yorkshire's acquisition of Australian powerhouse Aaron Finch is the pick of the signings for the new NatWest T20 Blast and 11/1 for the White Rose to win the competition is an inviting prospect.
ESPNcricinfo staff
13-May-2014
The NatWest T20 Blast takes flight with a new regular Friday night slot but the new schedule has made overseas signings difficult to come by, making Yorkshire's acquisition of Australian powerhouse Aaron Finch all the more impressive and 11/1 for the White Rose to win the competition an inviting prospect.
Finch is one of the most dangerous T20 batsmen in world cricket with an average of 37.48 at 135.97 runs per hundred balls - and his record is even better in international T20s where he holds the world record score - presenting Yorkshire with a superb addition to their squad.
Historically, Yorkshire have a poor record in T20 - which is why they are fifth favourites - but just two years ago reached the final. If a squad in good fettle from an excellent start to the County Championship can discover that form, Finch can add the quality to take them deep into the tournament once again and they are easy to back at 11/1.
Full postCook 5/2 to continue form against Scots
England's summer begins with a gentle opening ODI against Scotland in Aberdeen and Alastair Cook has shown strong early season form. Back him at 5/2 to be England's top batsman against Scotland.
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-May-2014
England's summer begins with a gentle opening ODI against Scotland in Aberdeen and Alastair Cook has shown strong early season form that suggests he can get back to his best for England. Back him at 5/2 to be England's top batsman against Scotland.
Cook enjoyed a long lay off after England's disastrous Ashes tour, skipping the Caribbean trip and not being part of the World T20 squad. And the break has served him well. He began the season with consecutive centuries for Essex and looks in good shape to get back to form for his country.
Scotland should provide an attack similar to that which might be found from a second division County Championship side. They will need carefully negotiating but should not pose too serious a threat. Cook is the man to thrive, back him at 5/2.
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