England remain favourites for Test and series
England remain slight favourites for the Test series, despite being comprehensively outplayed at Cape Town, where they slumped to a 196-run defeat
Andrew Hall
10-Jan-2005
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England remain slight favourites for the Test series, despite being comprehensively outplayed at Cape Town, where they slumped to a 196-run defeat. England can be found at 7/4 to win the fourth Test on bet365 while South Africa are 9/4. The draw is 5/4.
In the series betting, England are 6/4 and South Africa 15/8. A drawn series is 7/4. The most likely outcome is a 2-1 victory to England, according to bet365, and that series result is 3/1.
A 2-1 win in favour of South Africa, however, is marginally longer at 10/3.
South Africa winning 3-1 is 8/1.
Fourth Test betting
The irresistible form of Jacques Kallis has been a major factor in South Africa's competitiveness. He is 13/2 to be Man of the Match for the third successive match, which would take his total to five since the start of West Indies' tour of South Africa in 2003/4.
The irresistible form of Jacques Kallis has been a major factor in South Africa's competitiveness. He is 13/2 to be Man of the Match for the third successive match, which would take his total to five since the start of West Indies' tour of South Africa in 2003/4.
His nearest rival is Andrew Flintoff at 7/1. Surprisingly, Flintoff has only once featured as Man of the Match during England's winning run in 2004-05. Harmison, Strauss and Thorpe have each won the accolade twice. Harmison is due a good game, but it could just click for the big man from Durham. He is 11/1, alongside Graham Thorpe. Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan - another player in need of some form - are England's shortest-priced batsmen in this market at 9/1.
The Venue
Of the 25 Tests played at The Wanderers, 60% have ended with a positive result - 40% of all matches are won by the side batting first, 40% end in a draw, and 20% are won by the team batting second. South Africa have won their last two matches here - against West Indies and Sri Lanka - while their most recent defeat was to Australia, where they lost by an innings and 360 runs in 2001/2.
Of the 25 Tests played at The Wanderers, 60% have ended with a positive result - 40% of all matches are won by the side batting first, 40% end in a draw, and 20% are won by the team batting second. South Africa have won their last two matches here - against West Indies and Sri Lanka - while their most recent defeat was to Australia, where they lost by an innings and 360 runs in 2001/2.
Links to check
South Africa v West Indies, Johannesburg 2003-04
Full scorecard
South Africa v Sri Lanka, Johannesburg, 2002-03
Full scorecard
South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg 2001-02
Full scorecard
All Tests at The Wanderers
Full list
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.