- England v India
- LV= Insurance Test series, Fifth Test (of five)
- Friday July 1 - Tuesday July 5, 2022, 10.30am
- Edgbaston
Given the gap between the fourth and fifth Test Matches, it is worth recapping the situation.
England are 2-1 down heading into the series finale against India. The series should have been completed last September at Old Trafford, but the visitors pulled out on the morning of the game due to concerns surrounding Coronavirus.
Since then, a lot has changed for both teams, including new captains at the helm; England have Ben Stokes instead of Joe Root and India have Rohit Sharma instead of Virat Kohli.
The venue has also changed to Edgbaston, with Lancashire hosting pre-arranged concerts only last week and concerned that the pitch wouldn’t have recovered in time to host a game of this magnitude.
It says a lot about England’s current form that they are overwhelming favourites to beat an India side ranked number two in the world to their fifth.
But I can absolutely see why. From being at the bottom of the ocean in the winter, they are now riding the crest of a wave having just beaten New Zealand 3-0 with some rip-roaring, attacking cricket.
I suspect it will be too much for an India side who have had little quality preparation - a warm-up game against Leicestershire at Grace Road is all - and I am more than happy to take the 1/1 Ladbrokes are offering on them to win.
Lees didn’t work for us at Headingley, but I’m happy to go again
In previewing the Headingley Test against the Kiwis, I extolled the virtues of runs for opener Alex Lees. It didn’t happen. But nothing I saw has changed my mind that he is getting closer and closer to cementing his place at the top of the order.
He was bowled by a beauty from Trent Boult in the first innings for four and then run out for nine in the second, the fault of his partner Zak Crawley.
Lees enjoyed a good Test at Trent Bridge beforehand with scores of 67 and 44, and I’m happy to take the 13/8 bet365 have on him to score a half-century in this match.
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England v India Fifth Test
I'm sticking with Alex Lees to hit a half-century
At 13/8 a £10 bet would return £26.25
LV= Insurance Test Series, Fifth Test (of five)
July 01, 2022
10:30 am GMT+1
Anderson to return with a bang
Jimmy Anderson missed Headingley to rest a “puffy” ankle. Technical medical term is that!
But he is expected to be ready to go against India, the nation against whom he has taken more wickets than any other, 133 in 34 matches. Ninety nine of those have come in 21 home Tests, including five five-wicket hauls.
I like a couple of things on Anderson. The first is the 5/2 Betfair, amongst other firms, have on him to be England’s top first-innings wicket-taker.
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England v India Fifth Test
I like the 5/2 on Anderson to be England’s top first-innings wicket-taker
At 5/2 a £10 bet would return £35
LV= Insurance Test Series, Fifth Test (of five)
July 01, 2022
11:00 am GMT+1
I would also be keen to have a nibble at the 12/1 Ladbrokes are offering via their Wincast market for him to take five wickets in the first innings and for England to win.
* Betting odds quoted are subject to changes
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