Hoggard may be worth Hamilton buy

As always when there is a Test series around, Sporting Index have produced a number of intriguing spread betting markets, offering you a good chance to make plenty of money on England's efforts in New Zealand.

Click here to spread bet on New Zealand at Sporting Index

Since England are odds-on favourites with the fixed odds firms for the first Test, beginning in Hamilton on Wednesday morning, you won't be surprised to see them similarly strong in the straight win index, which offers 25 points per win and 10 per draw.

As I've outlined in the fixed odds preview, I struggle to see how New Zealand can win this series, providing, and that is always the key with England, that Michael Vaughan's men perform to their ability.

They are better on paper and in practice, so as long as they have not been mentally scarred by their defeats on tour in Australia last winter and Sri Lanka before Christmas, then they should emerge triumphant.

Sporting make England 40-43 on the win index, while New Zealand are 27-30. The latter looks too high, frankly. While England may only win the series by the odd game, providing New Zealand don't win one of the three Tests, then a sell would win you cash.

I had a look back at the history of New Zealand series at home, with regard to the Losing your bottle market, which offers one point per run less than 200 that a team is dismissed for. Sporting make it 95-110 and I doubt it will get that high. Though the seamers will be aided by pitches and conditions, there is enough talent in either side to ensure that they at least get to 200.

As regular readers of these pages may remember, I love Sporting's Tails of the unexpected market, where one point is awarded for every run scored by numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11 on the side concerned. This time, though, it's tough to tell how the matches will pan out, which makes the efforts of the tail even more predictable.

I like the chances of Matthew Hoggard doing well in the series and Sporting make him 45-50 in thier first Test performance market, which offers 10 point per wicket and a 25-point bonus for a five-wicket haul. The conditions should suit Hoggard down to the ground - he took 17 wickets in New Zealand last time in three Tests - and I can see him ripping through the top order if he is as consistent as usual. A small buy might be worthwhile.

Cambers' Call
Buy Matthew Hoggard at 50 on 1st Test performance index - SportingIndex

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.