South Africa v England - 5th Test spread tips

An excellent 4th Test has set things up perfectly for this final Test in Centurion. The canny punters who backed Strauss and Trescothick to perform were laughing all the way to the bank, and spread betting bookmakers Sporting Index are gearing up for a high scoring 5th Test.

Click here to spread bet on the 5th Test at Sporting Index

We persuaded their senior Cricket Market Maker to share his thoughts ahead of this match:

Trader's tips
"England played very poorly the last time they faced back-to-back Tests, losing the 3rd at Cape Town after drawing in Durban. However, the toss was much more significant in that match and the key issue this time around is how the pitch plays.

"Centurion is generally viewed as a batsman's paradise - last year South Africa scored 604/6 here when batting first against the West Indies, with Smith, Gibbs and Kallis all bagging centuries. If it stays true to form then we're bound to experience another runfest. The only difference is that this year, South Africa have requested a little more grass be left on to help their bowlers. Daryll Cullinan (the Titans captain, who plays domestically at Centurion) has stated that the wicket just improves for batting as the match progresses.

"Considering all this, we may be lucky to see either team taking 12 wickets, never mind a repeat of Hoggard's individual performance. At least one declaration is likely, but if England bat for a second time they'll have no reason to declare at all. The pressure is on the home team to force a win, and although we've priced this match up with England as slight favourites, they are under no pressure to win so I wouldn't be surprised if it plays out for a draw. I expect to see English punters betting high on Strauss, Trescothick and Vaughn's runs, as the value lies with the batsmen on this wicket."

Series runs
One of Sporting Index's most popular markets is based on a prediction of how many runs a batsman will get over the series. For example, ahead of this final match, below are some of the spreads currently offered (after 4 matches):

To bet on these markets, you either "bet high" at the higher price if you think the batsman's total will beat the bookies' prediction, or "bet low" if you think that the player is out of form and so won't score many. How much you win (or lose) depends on how right (or wrong) you are!

For example, in the 4th Test, Trescothick notched up a total of 196 runs over both innings. If you think that he's capable of repeating the score, you would bet high at 513 runs. If you're right and he manages another 196, that would give him a series total of 617 runs. Anyone betting high at 513 runs would win (617 - 513) = 104 times their stake. Betting £1 per run would earn a tasty £104.

Place your bets
That should give you something to think about. If you are considering having a punt then there is no better time to open an account with Sporting Index. They offer the widest range of cricket spreads and some very generous free bets for new clients. Simply open an account now, and after 10 bets you can claim your choice of:

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