Cricket: 1st Test - Pakistan v England Odds and Betting Preview

Story by George Coombs on 2012-01-16 23:48:30

DUBAI, UAE – England begin life at the top of the Test cricket rankings, with a difficult Test series against Pakistan which gets underway on Tuesday. The tourists will play the opening Test in this three match series in Dubai and they would love to pick up from where they left off in 2011 with a strong performance against Pakistan.

There has been a great deal of money coming in for the draw in this first test and it is currently available at 5/4 with a host of firms. England are a standout 2/1 with bet365 whilst the home side Pakistan are 3/1 with the same firm.

Pakistan are unbeaten in the five Test matches they have played in the UAE since adopting it as their home country in 2009 and this run could be set to continue as England may struggle to take 20 wickets in these conditions. Since he took over the role captain Misbah-ul-Haq has instigated a new mood within the Pakistani camp. He has overseen a run of six unbeaten Test series developing a disciplined squad that is so vastly different to the last time they met England, in a series dogged by spot-fixing claims.

England have has some injury scares in the build-up to this game with Stuart Broad and Ian Bell both suffering small knocks, but the pair look set to play. Tim Bresnan was ruled out of the tour during the first warm-up game but this could pave the way for England to go with two spinners on these flat pitches.

In the Top Pakistan Batsman market, Younis Khan is the general 7/2 favourite with most firms whilst Mohammed Hafeez is 4/1 with Boylesports. Hafeez has settled into his role opening the batting and he could frustrate England’s opening attack with his superb stroke-play. Inspirational leader Misbah-ul-Haq is quoted at 5/1 with Ladbrokes whilst Azhar Ali is a standout 11/2 with bet365 which looks a generous price for this young talented cricketer.

Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott have been installed at the head of the Top England Batsman betting, quoted at 4/1 with Skybet whilst the skipper Andrew Strauss is a 9/2 chance with the same firm. Cook scored a century in the final warm-up game and he will bid to score the sixth hundred on this ground in the last two Test matches. Ian Bell was in stunning form in 2011, averaging over 118 runs and looks a big price at 11/2 despite batting at number five. Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan complete England’s top order and can be backed at 5/1 and 8/1 respectively with Ladbrokes.

In the Top Pakistan Bowler betting Saeed Ajmal is a standout 3/1 with Coral whilst Abdur Rehman is an industry best price of 10/3 at Stan James. Ajmal has taken 50 wickets in his last eight Test appearances and it will be interesting to watch him bowl his new delivery the ‘teesra’, which he has developed for this series. Pakistan’s other bowling threats include Aizaz Cheema a general 10/3 chance in this market while Junaid Khan and Umar Gul are both available at 7/2 with Coral.

England can boast three bowlers in the top four of the Test Rankings and the spin-king Graeme Swann is the 5/2 favourite with Paddy Power to be the Top England Bowler. The other two, James Anderson and Stuart Broad are both quoted at 11/4 with Ladbrokes. Broad will be desperate to shake off his run of injuries that has halted his progress in recent times but the bruised foot he sustained bowling in the nets has not helped his cause. The conditions don’t offer much help to the fast bowlers and England may make a bold call and choose two spinners and Monty Panesar has been priced up at 7/2 with totesport alongside Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn who all look to be competing for the fourth bowler spot. Panesar took eight wickets in England’s final warm-up game and his deliveries look ideally suited to these conditions.

The opening day’s play begins on Tuesday 17th January at 06.00 GMT and all the action is broadcast live on Sky Sports 1.

Pakistan v England – Match Result Odds
Pakistan v England – Top Pakistan Batsman Odds
Pakistan v England – Top England Batsman Odds
Pakistan v England – Top Pakistan Bowler Betting
Pakistan v England – Top England Bowler Betting

Pakistan v England – Test Series Betting Preview