Cricket Betting: England will not win the One Day series against New Zealand
England Cricket 
/ The Betfair Contrarian / 08 February 2008 / 2 Comments
The Contrarian dismisses England's chance of adding to their Twenty20 success...
England may have gleefully trampled muddy footprints all over New Zealand's face in their recent Twenty20 series, but they shouldn't assume that everything will now fall into place for the rest of this winter.
Besides the fact that optimism and success are rarely bedfellows where England cricket is concerned, there are plenty of historical precedents for England to struggle in the One Day series, even if they are [1.51] to win on Betfair. A series win for the home side is priced at [2.88].
So here are the reasons to take the big price and side with Vettori and co...
England have a poor record against the Kiwis in the 50-over game.
England have only won 12 of 29 ODIs played against the Kiwis in New Zealand and have not recorded a One Day series win over the Black Caps since 1991/92. Their last ODI series in New Zealand saw them suffer a 3-2 defeat.
The Twenty20 slog-a-thon apart, New Zealand are in a confident mood.
New Zealand will enter this series on the back of comprehensive Test match and One Day series wins against Bangladesh - 5-0 and 3-0 respectively.
New Zealand have an inspirational leader.
The host's captain Daniel Vettori took more wickets than any other player in ODIs in 2007. His 207 wicket haul in One-Dayers makes him the Kiwis' all-time leading wicket taker in this form of the game.
New Zealand have a better bowling line up
Daniel Vettori is currently ranked second in the world for bowlers in ODIs. Kyle Mills is ranked seventh. England's highest ranked available bowler is James Anderson, at 15. Their next highest is Stuart Broad, almost off the scale at 48.
The rankings don't lie.
New Zealand are currently ranked third best in the world in ODIs, only behind Australia and South Africa. England sit uncomfortably in a lowly seventh position.
England are still without their best player.
England will once again have to manage without their all-rounder and talisman Andrew Flintoff. With a batting average of 31.46 and 145 wickets in the 50-over game to his name, will England be able to cope in his absence?
Recent history favours the Kiwis.
New Zealand have won five of the last seven ODIs between the sides, including three of the last four.
New Zealand have an impressive record at home...
Prior to a 3-0 whitewash of Bangladesh, they recorded an impressive series win over Australia (3-0), a 2-2 draw with Sri Lanka, followed by successive 4-1 wins over West Indies and Sri Lanka.
... and England typically struggle on foreign soil.
In spite of a narrow series win in Sri Lanka in October 2007, England have a miserable One Day record away from home. Since 2000, England have suffered back-to-back defeats in Pakistan and Sri Lanka and have also come out second best in New Zealand, India and South Africa.
Comments (2)
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Wizzard of Odds | 08 February 2008
I think this series will be a very competitive one. Yes England have a poor ODI record against the Kiwis but they are going into the game with some confidence after beating New Zealand twice in the last week.
Cook has just scored a hundered, KP looks to back in some kind of form and Collingwood has his men bowling and fielding like a good one day side. The one key thing for England is spin bowling. New Zealand have, probably one of the best in the world, England are struggling.
Monty is yet to prove himself at ODI level and Swann is very inexperienced at the top level.
This should make for good television.
Bring on Friday night Saturday morning.
Dinnie | 13 February 2008
They are a higly overestimated side. They just lack the maturity that is needed in today's situations.