Cricket: 3rd Test – Pakistan v England Odds and Betting Preview

Story by George Coombs on 2012-02-02 23:50:20

DUBAI, UAE – England face Pakistan in the final Test match on Friday and the world number one side will be determined to salvage some pride following two straight defeats in the United Arab Emirates. England are in danger of losing their number one Test crown and anything but a win in Dubai this week will open the door for South  Africa to steal the honour if they were to whitewash New Zealand in their upcoming Test series. Pakistan have been dominant in the opening two games and can make history here by becoming the first Pakistan team to secure a series whitewash outside of their home country.

England and Pakistan are both quoted at 7/4 with Sportingbet and Stan James respectively (bet £4 to make £7 profit) which is surprising given the current series score-line. A draw in this final Test match can be backed at an industry best price of 5/2 with bet365.

Pakistan have performed very well and have totally outplayed England in all areas of the game and will be full of confidence heading into Friday's game. They have shown consistency in their play that will help them climb the rankings once more. Pakistan did not lose a Test series in 2011 and have started off 2012 in the same fashion which is an encouraging sign. The Pakistani bowlers have helped they side to the 2-0 series lead with spinner Saeed Ajmal flourishing in the first Test while Abdur Rehman took six wickets for 25 runs to ensure his side won the game in Abu Dhabi.

England have disappointed on this tour to date and many of the batsmen that flourished in 2011 have struggled against spin bowling on these flat tracks. Not a single English batsman has scored a century in the four innings so far which will be a worry for the coach and selectors and they could bring in Ravi Bopara in the place of Eoin Morgan for this game. Bopara is a more accomplished player against spin and will want to seize his chance back in the staring XI. The bowling unit has performed very well and Monty Panesar has shown he still has something to offer on the international stage.

In the Top Pakistan Batsman betting, Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez both head the market at 4/1 with Paddy Power and William Hill respectively. Taufeeq Umar is a general 9/2 chance while skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is quoted at 5/1 with Coral. The captain has made 148 runs from his three innings so far and will relish the opportunity to lead his team to a historical series whitewash. Azhar Ali is another played priced up at 5/1 and he top scored in Pakistan’s second innings in Abu Dhabi scoring 68 runs before he was caught off the bowling of James Anderson.

England’s batsmen have a lot of questions to answer following a string on abject performances and Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott can be backed at 4/1 with Ladbrokes in the Top England Batsman betting. Skipper Andrew Strauss is in desperate need of runs at the top of the order and is available at 5/1 with Stan James here. The middle order of Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan have only contributed 94 runs throughout the series and they are quoted at 11/2, 6/1 and 9/1 respectively with 888Sport. The selectors may decided to include Ravi Bopara and he is a general 8/1 chance to top score on his return to the side.

In the top bowler betting Saeed Ajmal is the most prominent player in the Top Pakistan Bowler market and can be backed at 7/4 with Boylesports, on a pitch he caused so much damage on only a fortnight ago. Abdur Rehman is a standout 3/1 with Stan James. In the Top England Bowler betting the spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar are both available at 11/4 with Stan James while paceman Stuart Broad is a 3/1 chance with Ladbrokes in this market.

Play begins at 06.00 GMT on Friday 3rd February and the match is broadcast live on Sky Sports 1.

Pakistan v England – Match Result Odds