England Cricket / Editor / 13 June 2007 /

Although England secured the Wisden Trophy and the series with the West Indies when they took the third Test at Old Trafford on Monday to lead 2-0 with one game to play, there was more than enough evidence from that game to prove the finale this weekend could be competitive.

The West Indies pay their first visit to Chester-le-Street for a Test match on the back of one of their most impressive away performances in years at Old Trafford as they took England all the way, looking far more interested in their game and showing a lot of pride in the maroon cap.

For long spells late on Sunday and early on Monday they were well positioned to make a world record final-innings score to win the match and set up what would have been a wonderful spectacle for the Riverside crowd to behold, but now we are back to just pride to play for as they look to avoid ending the series winless.

But when it all comes down to a conclusion, the tourists have been outplayed by England for around two-thirds of the sessions finished so far, and it is no huge surprise to see them installed as a 19.5 shot in the match odds market, which will be, as ever, available in-play for Betfair punters.

However the intrigue in this game could come in the battle between England and the draw for favouritism, as punters try to put their weather-forecasting head on and make an opinion on just how much play there will be over the five days.

At the moment, the rain-mongers are winning out with the draw the favourite at a skinny 1.93, although there are some big amounts available for layers at bigger prices, while England are priced at 2.3 to small stakes.

As any budding Michael Fish will attest to, it is dreadfully tough to predict weather conditions and how they are going to affect play, especially when it is quite possible for a Test match to be done and dusted inside three days, but the long-range prognosis is not particularly positive for any one of the five days to be uninterrupted by nature.

When previewing it is tough to make assumptions about the weather, so we will take a look at the game as it might happen given decent conditions.

England's performance at Old Trafford was, in parts, a disappointment especially in the bowling attack where Monty Panesar was a clear star and Steve Harmison only turned up properly in the second innings, admittedly when he was most required.

Harmison will be on home territory at the Riverside, but whether that will be a help or hindrance on this occasion is a tough call. He did take nine wickets in his only County Championship outing there for Durham earlier in the season, but this game will be played in front of a packed house of expectant fans, both local and from the rest of the country.

Whether or not his fragile mental state holds up is the question for punters in the top wicket-taker market?

But spin has not really been tested there in 2007, with only three championship matches and only one spinner having any success - the incomparable Muttiah Muralitharan, who took eight wickets over two innings. Panesar may again have to prove any remaining critics wrong and impress on a pitch not designed to help.

England will also hope Ryan Sidebottom can swing the ball more dangerously than he did at Old Trafford, although he was the most consistent of the home bowlers despite not threatening a great deal, and Matthew Hoggard will also be dangerous if he is fit enough to replace the ineffective Liam Plunkett.

England's batsmen, Andrew Strauss apart, have been excellent, with everyone contributing at least one big score, but that does nothing but cloud the top-scorer market, with all of the top seven realistic contributors.

Strauss' problems could well have him facing his last England innings for a while if he fails again, and the pressure could well tell, making the likes of Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen far more attractive.

But most appealing of the lot could be home hero Paul Collingwood who bounced back from a duck in his only four-day outing at the Riverside this season to hit 58 off 44 balls in the second innings - he is one of the six England batsmen to have hit a century in the series off an attack that is frustratingly inconsistent.

The tourists finally managed to take 20 wickets in a match at Old Trafford thanks to a most impressive debut from all-rounder Darren Sammy, whose 7-66 in the second innings was an excellent effort and one that has to have him to the fore of those thinking of a bet in the top West Indies wicket-taker market.

That puts Sammy just one wicket behind Corey Collymore in the battle for top West Indies series bowler and conditions should again suit him, while the pitch should not really hinder their total disregard for a spin bowling option.

But it remains a question of whether or not they can match that bowling effort from Old Trafford, where England threw away a number of their wickets and conditions really did suit quick bowling as the game progressed - even the fairly pedestrian Collymore was getting some help.

Batsmen have been on top in games at the Riverside so far this season where there have been three centuries and a double-hundred in three County Championship games, as well as plenty more scores of over 50.

But it is worth noting that scoring has been a lot easier when the pitch has been fresh and bowlers have begun to have the upper hand as games have progressed - should it get that far, the team batting last may find chasing even a small target difficult.

That could make the toss very important, and it would be interesting to see what would happen if the West Indies did have the chance to bat first despite most of their players being in average to poor form.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul would have to be a strong favourite in the top Windies scorer market after his polished unbeaten 116 at Old Trafford, an innings of sheer class and one that almost turned defeat into victory.

The remainder of the line-up has, so far, failed to break 70 and that has to be a question for any punter considering a bet on the long-shots for victory as well as anyone opposing Chanderpaul.

It is hard to see where the winner would come from outside him, and the rest of the field are much of a muchness, despite previous class from the likes of the desperately disappointing Chris Gayle and skipper Daren Ganga.

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