CRICKET BETTING: Live on Skysports 1: Fri 10.30: England and Pakistan clash for the 2nd time this summer after England dominated the 1st Test. Can Pakistan level the series?
Pakistan have called for backup and Mohammad Yousuf has answered that call. After being blown away in the 1st Test at Trent Bridge, Betfred make Pakistan 5/1 to win at Edgbaston, starting on Friday.
Merely hours after being bowled out for 80 and losing by a whopping 354 runs, the PCB were on the phone to former captain Yousuf, who retired back in March. He decided to make the mad dash over to England and is due to arrive on Thursday afternoon to take his place in the middle order which suffered so badly twice against England and, lets not forget, once against Aussie too. England can take heart from their opponents apparent desperation and while 3/4 (Betdaq) is short, it’s a justfied price for a team on a 5-test winning streak.
Conditions may, or may not, replicate those of Trent Bridge, that remains to be seen, but the form of Anderson, backed up ably by Steve Finn, should have Pakistan quaking. Actually, both teams have fantastic prospects in their attacks, Pakistan have Aamer and Asif to cause the damage but it seemed that England could cope with a lot of what Pakistan threw their way (they did at least score over 600 runs). Collingwood, Morgan and Prior were the only England players to beat 50, the latter 2 got centuries, and there is no reason Morgan can’t replicate his 1st test display. He is 6/1 with Ladbrokes to top score for England whilst opener Andrew Strauss is 10/3 (Stan James).
Anderson obviously tops the list for best England bowler after his 11 for 71, 2/1 at Bet365, but lets not forget about Stuart Broad. The tall pace man took a modest 3 wickets in the 1st Test but on this ground 2 weeks ago he reduced Warwickshire to a shivering wreck when he ploughed through their entire order with 8 wickets for 52 runs in a single innings. The bookies appear to be savvy to this but 3/1 (Skybet) for him to top wicket take for England might be just the bet.
As for Pakistan, they have 16 players to choose a team from which may not become known until Friday morning. Yousuf may not figure on the Friday due to travelling and preparation (but then again he might?) and Kaneria has been released. Aamer, Asif and Gul will very likely all start and will set about attempting to disrupt England while they hope Yousuf can restore stability to the batting order.
There seems to be too much change, too frantically, in this Pakistan side. It’s all their for an England win again but one eye needs to be on the skies. There is rain predicted for the weekend so perhaps the draw at 11/4 (Blue Square) should not be ruled out. Punters with capital could look to Paddy Power’s 2/9 on England to win, draw no bet, for a safety first approach.
SkyBet Specials:
Player Runs – 1st Inns
Strauss A – Under 35.5 Runs 5/6
Strauss A – Over 35.5 Runs 5/6
Pietersen K – Under 32.5 Runs 5/6
Pietersen K – Over 32.5 Runs 5/6
Trott J – Under 31.5 Runs 5/6
Trott J – Over 31.5 Runs 5/6
Butt S – Under 30.5 Runs 5/6
Butt S – Over 30.5 Runs 5/6
Farhat I – Under 27.5 Runs 5/6
Farhat I – Over 27.5 Runs 5/6
Akmal U – Under 28.5 Runs 5/6
Akmal U – Over 28.5 Runs 5/6
England Most Runs 1st Inns
Strauss A 10/3
Pietersen K 7/2
Trott J 4/1
Cook A 9/2
Collingwood P 5/1
Morgan E 6/1
Prior M 8/1
Swann G 33/1
Bresnan T 40/1
Broad S 50/1
Anderson J 100/1
Finn S 200/1
Pakistan Most Runs 1st Inns
Yousuf M 3/1
Butt S 7/2
Farhat I 4/1
Akmal U 9/2
Hameed Y 9/2
Malik S 13/2
Ali A 13/2
Amin U 7/1
Akmal K 8/1
Haider Z 25/1
Gul U 33/1
Aamer M 33/1
Ahmed T 50/1
Ajmal S 100/1
Riaz W 100/1
Hasan R 100/1
Asif M 100/1
William Hill Man Of The Match:
8/1 Strauss
8/1 Anderson
10/1 Pietersen
12/1 Aamer
12/1 Asif
12/1 Swann
14/1 Collingwood
14/1 Broad
14/1 Finn
16/1 Butt
16/1 Trott
16/1 Morgan
16/1 Gul
16/1 Kaneria
20/1 Bar
Compare all England v Pakistan 2nd Test odds and bet at the best prices.
