Can England pick themselves up?

Marcus Trescothick is an accomplished one-day batsman, but he may well have the weight of the captaincy on his shoulders in Pakistan as well © Getty Images

Having been humbled in the Test series and with captain Michael Vaughan getting another opinion on his troublesome knee, England go into the forthcoming one-day series in Pakistan in a manner few would have expected just a few weeks ago. With the five-match series starting in Lahore on Saturday, bet365 make Pakistan big favourites to take overall victory at 8/15 (1.53), while England are available at 11/8 (2.37).

Click here to bet on Pakistan v England at bet365

It is difficult to gauge the state of mind of the England party. Soundly beaten in the Test series, particularly in the final encounter in Lahore, they are bound to be deflated, but perhaps a let-down was not a big surprise on their first outing after their sensational Ashes triumph. Pakistan played superbly throughout and were the better side for most, if not all, the matches.

However, the one-day game offers England respite from the heat of Test battle and for many of the squad, offers them a chance to regain their form. England will be keeping their fingers crossed that Vaughan is fit, for though Marcus Trescothick is a solid leader, the loss of someone of Vaughan's quality could be too much to bear, not least because Ashley Giles is also to miss the series. Vikram Solanki, Ian Blackwell and Kabir Ali will add their fresh faces to the squad, while Ian Bell is on standby to replace Vaughan, but Pakistan are on a high, and also welcome back fit-again Abdul Razzaq to a squad which must be buzzing from their Test win.

Now everyone knows that the result of a Test series has little or no direct relevance to the result of a one-day series, or vice versa, but England have lost their last two one-day series, one to Australia and one to South Africa. They have won just nine of their last 20 one-day internationals, and though they have won 31 of their 53 one-day clashes with Pakistan, the last 20 are split at 10 apiece. It's also level between the two sides in Pakistan, at seven each.

England are capable of great things on any given day in one-day cricket, but in hot, tough conditions, it's that bit harder to pick yourselves up when you're down and I have to believe that Pakistan will also win the series, at 8/15 (1.53).

Cambers' Call: Pakistan to beat England in one-day series - 8/15 (1.53)

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

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