Joe Root backed to be the point of difference in Sri Lanka Tests

England's rain-interrupted triumphs in the limited-overs leg of their winter tour have heightened expectations that they may be able to achieve a feat that they've not managed since Nasser Hussain's tour in 2000-01, and win a rare Test series in Sri Lanka.

According to the odds-setters at Bet365, England and Sri Lanka are both equally priced at 13/8 to win the first Test at Galle, which gets underway on November 6.

The draw is 12/5, which might conceivably be attractive given how much rain has been around the tour in recent weeks. Then again, it has been 21 matches and nearly four and a half years since the last drawn Test on Sri Lanka's spin-friendly decks.

As for the series result, England are fractionally more fancied to prevail over the three Tests - they are 5/4 to win the series, compared to Sri Lanka's 6/4, with the draw at 10/3 - a reflection of the confidence England can take from their 4-1 series win over India in the summer, as well as Sri Lanka's recent struggles.

There's little doubt who the bookmakers back as the point-of-difference player in these conditions. With runs expected to be at a premium, it is Joe Root's expertise in all conditions, but particularly against spin bowling, that is expected to stand out. He is 2/1 to be England's leading run-scorer.

Keep an eye out, too, on Joe Denly - the surprise Man of the Match in the one-off T20 on Saturday, he is 5/1 to be England's top-scorer, despite never yet having played a Test. Mind you, so too is Keaton Jennings, England's most under-pressure batsman. The chance to get in at the top of the order does come with the prospect of cashing in if the going is in your favour.