Go short on West Indies top innings score

As usual, Sporting Index have an extensive list of markets on the four-Test series between England and West Indies, with plenty of opportunities to make some money while enjoying a summer of cricket.

As with the entire series, the theme is clear. West Indies are poor and will be lucky to win a Test while England are eyeing another 4-0 whitewash of a country that once dominated world cricket.

Sporting make England 70-74 in the straight series win index, which offers 25 points for each Test won and 10 per draw. A 4-0 win would clearly make up at 100, and that is very likely, though the weather could play a part, as so often in England.

Such is West Indies's frailty, however, that it may only take three days for England to win each match. The tourists are 21-25 in that market, which looks like a sell. They won't win a Test and it's hard to see more than one Test being drawn.

The top West Indies innings score also looks interesting, at 440-455. In recent years, West Indies have only topped 400 on a few occasions, mostly on slow pitches and not when the ball swings.

However, even when they did top 400 by a margin - in Pakistan in 2005/6, they needed a double century from Brian Lara. There is no Lara this time, which makes the quote of 440-455 surprisingly high.

None of the four Tests are to be played at The Oval, the best batting pitch on the England circuit, leaving Lord's as the best of the rest. But it is not easy for touring sides to bat there, with plenty of swing and seam movement likely in the overcast conditions.

Frankly, I'd be surprised if West Indies even get past 400, especially as they have had almost no practice in the build-up. Without Lara the quote should have been around 390-410, so take a punt and sell at 440.

Tails of the unexpected
Anyone who has read my previews of Test series involving England in the past will know that I love Sporting's Tails of the Unexpected market, and it is worth examing again this time.

When one side is so dominant on paper, as England are, then the usual thing is to look to the weaker team, as they are likely to bat twice each time. It doesn't always work out that way, but West Indies' quote of 230-250 could be too high.

Fidel Edwards, Corey Collymore, Daren Powell and Jerome Taylor have combined averages of 26.49 so if they each achieved that in each innings, then the make-up would be about 210.

Personally, I think it's a bit low and a buy at 250 could in fact be the bet. All it takes is one of the bottom four to swing the bat a bit and make a decent score for the market to go up, but the quote is probably close to correct.