England favourites to triumph in South Africa

England are 21/20 to beat South Africa in the five-Test series which begins at Port Elizabeth next Friday. The South Africans are in the unfamiliar position of being outsiders, at 13/8.

In the Series Correct Score market, a 2-1 England victory is the most likely result according to bookmakers bet365. Similar results offer far better odds - a 3-1 England win is the standout bet at 10/1, while a similar result in favour of South Africa is a relatively miserly 12/1. Many pundits favour a good contest (1-1 is 15/2, 2-2 is 6/1), while those England fans expecting a whitewash can get 50/1. A 5-0 margin in favour of South Africa is 125-1.

Port Elizabeth has an 80% definite-result ratio, so the draw in the first Test is well priced at 11/8. The last Test here was way back in 2001-02, when South Africa drew with India. Herschelle Gibbs, the Man of the Match then for his 196, is missing this time - at least for the start of the series. Only two wickets in that match fell to the spinners, with Javagal Srinath (6 for 76 in the first innings) and Shaun Pollock (5 for 40) the most productive bowlers. So expect Steve Harmison to play a major role in this series.