Cricket: Pakistan v England Test Series Odds and Betting Preview

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – England travel to the UAE to play a Test series on neutral soil for the first time in history. Pakistan have played all their home internationals in a country that boasts the headquarters of the ICC, ever since gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009. This will also be the first time the two sides have met since a controversial series in England, in 2010 where three Pakistani players were convicted of spot-fixing, adding spice to an already intriguing series.

England are the 6/5 favourites with Stan James to win the series whilst Pakistan are an 11/4 chance with Boylesports. A draw over the three matches is a general 5/2 with most firms, including bet365 and Skybet.

England have risen steadily through the Test world rankings and now proudly sit at the top of the pile. They are a team with world class players who all know what is expected of them within the group. England’s record in 2011 was astonishing as they finsihed with ix wins and only two draws from their eight test matches and there is huge confidence and momentum surrounding the squad.  

Pakistan are beginning to become a force in world cricket following that dreadful tour to England in 2010. They have recently seen their sub-continent neighbours, India and Sri Lanka struggle and will want to impose themselves on opposition once more. The pitches in the UAE are expected to be low and slow favouring the batsman which will test the Pakistani bowling attack as they try to take 20 England wickets in a game.

In the Series Correct Score betting, A 1-1 draw is currently priced up at 9/2 with Stan James whilst bet365 quote the same 9/2 price on an England 1-0 victory. Skybet are top price on England winning by a 2-0 score line and Ladbrokes are a standout 7/1 on Pakistan to win the series by a single game to nil.

Younis Khan has been installed at the head of the Top Pakistan Series Batsman market, priced up at 7/2 with BetVictor and Boylesports. Mohammed Hafeez is next at 9/2 with sportingbet while the skipper Misbah-ul-Haq is available at 5/1 with Ladbrokes. The young star Azhar Ali has made the number three slot his own since Butt was convicted of spot-fixing and the young talent looks great value at 11/2 with Skybet to top his side’s run-scoring charts over the coming month. In the twelve Tests since the scandal he has averaged a massive 51 runs and he enjoys the conditions on offer in the UAE.

The opener Alastair Cook enjoyed a sparking 2011 averaging 84 runs from his 11 Test innings  and it is no surprise to see him quoted as the 7/2 favourite with Betfred in the Top England Series Batsman betting. Jonathan Trott is next at 9/2 with Stan James while captain Andrew Strauss and the powerful Kevin Pietersen are 5/1 chances in this market. Ian Bell is a general 11/2 shot and he has flourished since he was dropped down the order to number five. Bell amassed 950 runs in 11 innings in 2011 and he is a great player on the front foot helping him against spin which could be crucial in this series.

In the Top Pakistan Series Bowler, Saeed Ajmal is quoted at 9/4 with totesport and the off-spinner will be trying to upstage England’s Graeme Swann, who is widely regarded as the best spinner in Test cricket. Ajmal took 50 wickets in 2011 at an average of just under 24 and knows the conditions in the UAE very well. Umar Gul and Abdur Rehman are available at 4/1 and 9/2 respectively with Paddy Power and Stan James and they will look to build pressure to help their side take wickets.

This series looks set to be a battle between two great spinners and Graeme Swann will not be short of words when his side take to the turf in Dubai for the opening test. He is currently a 2/1 chance in the Top England Series Bowler betting while the pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad can be backed at 4/1 with Stan James and Ladbrokes respectively. England’s second spinner, Monty Panesar, has been bowling with great variation and class in the warm-up matches and he looks a big price at 9/1 with Ladbrokes and should go well in this series.

The first Test begins in Dubai on Tuesday 17th January and all three Tests in the series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Pakistan v England – Series Winner Odds
Pakistan v England – Series Correct Score Odds
Pakistan v England – Top Series Pakistan Batsman Odds
Pakistan v England – Top Series England Batsman Odds
Pakistan v England – Top Series Pakistan Bowler Betting
Pakistan v England – Top Series England Bowler Betting