England v India – 2nd Test

They don’t like it swinging or seaming, the Indians, and it seems that is what is going to confront them at Edgbaston tonight…as well as some bounce as well. The Trent Bridge groundsman, Steve Birks, commented yesterday that the pitch will “swing, seam and bounce” when asked about it yesterday. He served up a dustbowl for Sri Lanka there last year, which they welcomed with open arms, and, presumably, after a ticking off from the ECB there was no chance of that happening again this year…then again Jesus Christ himself couldn’t serve up a dustbowl anywhere in England this year the amount of rain that’s been falling, Noah himself may well be drafted in at some point, aboard his ark, to rescue the players from the middle if anymore of this rain continues. Jokes aside, the forecast actually seems to have improved a little and it is on this basis, along with the pitch report, that leads me to tip a small back of England. This inexperienced England attack were impressive in the 1st Test and England can consider themselves extremely unlucky not to be 1-0 up already, the rain coming to India’s rescue. At no point did any Indian batsman really look ‘In’ during that match and I predict more of the same. If you can get on the $2.55 at Betstar take it, lucky you, but everyone else have a point at the $2.56-$2.58 on Betfair. Don’t go lower than $2.50…there is still the likelihood of them not starting on time, due to the waterlogged pitch, and any more rain could see the draw price plummet.
England to beat India 1pt at $2.56: Betfair.

Rahul Dravid, aka ‘The Wall’, has been India’s most consistent performer for some time now and, quite simply, the man is class. He has scored runs in every country in all conditions and when he’s at the crease nothing fazes him. He didn’t enjoy the first Test at Lord’s very much, but it’s not often that the Tiger of Bengal fails two Tests running. He is one Indian batsman that I would back to adapt to the alien conditions and England will rate him as their number one target, once he’s in he will make the opposition pay and, like Shivnarine Chanderpaul who did so well against England this summer, he can bat, and bat, and bat. Sports Acumen have matched Dravid up with the English skipper Michael Vaughan in a spread bet – match runs supremacy. He often flatters to deceive does Vaughan, the sort of player who looks sublime one minute then chucks it all away the next. He has been in good touch so far in his comeback from injury but he’s just not in the same class as Dravid. I would have Vaughan in for about 75 runs in the match and Dravid more like 83…which would make The Wall an 8 run favourite in supremacy terms. Sports Acumen have gone 2 choice the two skippers, that is you have to buy either of them at 2 over the other, and I obviously like a buy of Dravid. Obviously these markets are volatile, you get rewarded the more you are right but pay the price the more you are wrong, so keep stakes small…buy 0.1 units of Dravid at 2 and lets hope we see a Dravid special. If the price moves then buy up to 5 but only for 0.05 units.
Buy 0.1 Units Dravid/Vaughan at 2: Sports Acumen.

Andrew Strauss has had a dire time at the crease since, and during, the Ashes but Sports Acumen seem to think that his 96 in the last Test has signalled a return to form. I’m a great believer in the old saying “One swallow does not a summer make”. He rode his luck a little in that knock and there still seems to be the odd technical deficiency that will be even more heightened against a swinging ball. On the other hand his opening partner, choirboy Alistair Cook, has looked solid and unflappable beyond his years in his Test career to date and has been ultra-reliable for England since he was invited into the Test arena. Sports Acumen have matched the two openers up, again in a match runs match bet, and made Cook a 0-4 favourite. I agree they have the right favourite but I would personally be punchier. I’d have Cook in for about 80 runs in the match and Strauss on for 72, give or take, so would suggest a small 0.05 units buy at 4 of the choirboy. If it moves to 6 only buy it if you like it a little more than I do.
Buy 0.05 units Cook/Strauss at 4: Sports Acumen.

The final bet of the day is England in the Highest Opening Partnership market. I’ve mentioned the two England opening bats previously, as for their Indian counterparts, Jaffer and Karthik, they are both good players but are inexperienced in these conditions. Whilst both hit 50s in the 1st Test, they were a real grind and I’m going to back them to struggle here. They will have to face up to the swing twins Anderson and Sidebottom both of whom looked in great nick at Lord’s, swinging the ball consistently and accurately from ball one, and I can envisage an early breakthrough. The Indian new ball pairing of Zaheer Khan and the ridiculously insane Sree Sreesanth (if you don’t believe me watch this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tCrn2CpHOiM ), whilst quite impressive, do not hold the same threat as the English duo. I’d have England’s opening pairing under/over mark at 36.5 runs, if I were pricing this up, and India’s at 27.5 – on the basis of that I’d make England 8/11 ($1.72). Have two points on England.
England Highest Opening Partnership, 2 pts at $1.80: IASBet, Canbet. Note: This price has moved and the bet wont be included in the records.

Plays of the Day
England to beat India 1pt at $2.56: Betfair.
Buy 0.1 units Dravid/Vaughan at 2: Sports Acumen.
Buy 0.05 units Cook/Strauss at 4: Sports Acumen.
England Highest Opening Partnership, 2 pts at $1.80: IASBet, Canbet.