England hot favourites to prolong West Indies' agony

England are 11/8 favourites with bet365 to beat West Indies in the third Test and record a series win in Barbados. West Indies are 5/2, and the draw is 6/4.

The match starts on Thursday, and it can't come soon enough for an England side buoyant after their outstanding performances in the Jamaica and Trinidad Tests. The ground also traditionally receives the most England support, so West Indies will be under immense pressure.

The last match at the spiritual home of West Indies cricket resulted in a comprehensive nine-wicket win for Australia. The Aussies batted first, and racked up an immense 605 for 9, which West Indies followed with 328 and 284. Significantly, there were no major contributions from the three experienced batsmen who still form the basis of the West Indies batting line-up: 56 in the match from Brian Lara, 21 from Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and 98 from Ramnaresh Sarwan. There's no doubt that West Indies will need more than this against a rampant England side.

Brian Lara has only recorded one Test hundred in Barbados - 153 not out against South Africa in 1998-99 - and he will be under immense scrutiny as he strives to improve this record in this week's match. Bet365 have faith in Lara - he is 2/1 to be Top West Indies batsman, and, perhaps more surprisingly, 11/2 to be Man of the Match.

For England, Steve Harmison is 8/1 to record a third Man of the Match award in a row, and skipper Michael Vaughan is a tempting 17/2.

There were six wickets each for Corey Collymore and Pedro Collins in the weekend's Carib Beer final, in which Barbados beat Jamaica to lift the title. Collymore is 25/1 to be Man of the Match at the Kensington Oval, behind Collins at 18/1.

bet365 will be betting in-running on West Indies v England

Also betting on:
The Grand National
Pakistan v India
English domestic competitions