England up against it

England could be forgiven for still being on a high after their victory in the final Test but they look likely to be up against it when they take on India in a seven-match one-day series, starting on Tuesday.

England have a horrible record in one-day series that are staged after Test series, and it is no surprise to see India installed as 2/5 (1.40) favourites, while England are 7/4 (2.75) to come upset the odds again.

For a touring team, playing a one-day series at the end of a Test series is a really tough experience, more mentally than physically and it is always difficult to pick yourselves up.

India underperformed in the Test series and will be without Sachin Tendulkar - but they are still a formidable one-day outfit, with a good mix of pace and spin and a set of batsmen that can rip apart any attack.

If India get off to a good start, then it will be increasingly tough for England and I can see this being pretty one-sided. A 5-2 win is likely to be around 11/4 (3.75) while a 6-1 win should be around 15/2 (8.50).

India should be confident of a good performance, having won 15 of their past 20 one-day matches, while England, who will again be without Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles, have won only seven of their past 20.

Surprisingly, they have won eight of their past 20 away from home, but a victory here just looks to be a bit beyond them.