Sri Lanka v England Test series betting and odds preview

England Cricket / Editor / 12 September 2007 / Leave a Comment

England will head to Sri Lanka in December looking to get back to winning ways in the Test arena, but it looks a tough series to call for betting punters.

Michael Vaughan's men suffered their second defeat in three series against India this summer and the betting odds will be stacked against them in the sub-continent on their three-Test tour.

The two sides met in a three-match series last year on English soil and those customers eyeing a bet will have noted that the series ended in a draw, after a Test victory for both teams and a drawn match at Lord's.

Sri Lanka have since beaten South Africa and Bangladesh in home series and claimed a draw in a two-match series in New Zealand, with betting punters likely to see Trevor Bayliss' men as favourites to defeat England.

Odds checkers should be aware that the two sides have been pretty evenly matched over the years, England have won 8, lost 5 and drawn 5 of their 18 Test encounters. The last time England played in Sri Lanka they lost a three-game series 1-0 in 2003, with their last series victory coming in 2001 when they won 2-1. Those stats, plus England's recent displays in all forms of the game, could tempt those having a bet to back the home side.

England and their betting followers will be looking to Monty Panesar to produce some big performances this winter, with the pitches in Kandy, Colombo and Galle likely to favour spin bowling.

Those taking the odds on offer for the home side will see their spin star Muttiah Muralitharan, who has taken 93 Test wickets against England, as the key man. Meanwhile, captain Mahela Jayawardene will also be a popular bet in the runscoring markets after scoring over 1000 runs in 13 matches against England, at an average of 52.71.