Akmal worth an interest

After the success of Chris Read on Sporting Index's player performance markets in the last Test, it's worth looking at some of the other players on offer for the fourth and final Test between England and Pakistan at The Oval.

It's hard to know just how hard Pakistan will be trying given the state of the series but with Bob Woolmer as their manager, they will not be allowed to just roll over and die.

They will be playing for pride and after scanning over their markets, I like the look of a buy of Kamran Akmal's performance.

This offers one point per run scored, 10 per catch and 25 per stumping (the 20 for a wicket is not important in the wicket-keeper's case) and it looks a little low ar 76-84.

OK, so the market made up at just 38 and 50 in the second and third Tests, but in the first Test that would have been 138 so there is money to be made.

Akmal's wicket-keeping is not the best but he is competent enough and he is an excellent batsman when he gets going. He should love The Oval as a batting pitch, while its extra bounce and pace should help all the Pakistan bowlers.

He ought to get a few catches behind the stumps and with Danish Kaneria and perhaps Shahid Afridi bowling spin, stumpings are also options. One good innings with the bat should take him past the total and remember, Shane Warne took 12 wickets there last year.

OK, so Warne is a freak but the pitch does take spin and Kaneria in particular is a fine bowler.