Still nothing to separate the sides as NZ-England Tests loom

Ah yes, it's England versus New Zealand. It's bound to end in a tie, isn't it? Well, 4/1 says it might be a draw at the very least, when the first Test gets underway in Mount Maunganui on Thursday. And, seeing as England have drawn five and lost one of their last six Tests in New Zealand since 2008, that's not a terrible shout, particularly given that Jofra Archer reckoned the surface for this week's drawn warm-up was the "flattest" of his career.

Realistically, there's not a lot to choose between the teams. They are both priced at 15/8 to win the two-Test series, with New Zealand slender favourites at 5/4 over 11/8. The series draw - aka one Test apiece - is an almost double-your-money option at 7/4.

There's a curious frontrunner in the Man of the Series stakes, however. Lockie Ferguson has yet to make his Test debut, and isn't even a shoo-in for selection in New Zealand's pace attack. However, he is 4/1 to be the stand-out player in the first Test, almost half the price of the more obvious gun in their ranks, the brilliant Kane Williamson at 7/1.

Ben Stokes, back in the land of his father, and fresh from a range of revelations in his new autobiography, is 12/1 to continue his world-beating form, which seems like an inviting price for a man who can affect the game with bat and ball. Jofra Archer and Trent Boult, opposing pace spearheads, are also at 12/1 - Archer is set to play his first overseas Test, having never previously bowled with a red Kookaburra ball.

And seeing as their most famous recent encounter was settled on boundary countback, it would be remiss not to clock the number of times either team clears the rope. England are 6/5 to pick up the most sixes at Mount Maunganui, ahead of New Zealand at 6/4. Which proves even less than it did at Lord's back in July.