Premier League Tips

Virat Kohli's charges are a team for all seasons and all conditions and they are a huge threat to England's chances of winning their first World Cup next summer. Simply, India can do it all.

But despite massive improvement on wickets which are alien to the ones back home, there is still an edge in our favour. While they can cope perfectly well with the ball buzzing around their ears and hitting the splice hard, it can catch some of them out.

This was true in the recent ODI series against Australia. They lost game one when Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff, the Perth tearaways, ruffled feathers. India's batsmen were particularly surprised by the sleight of hand and slippery speed from Richardson.

Is there anyone who could follow suit for New Zealand in the early exchanges? Well, take your pick from three. Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are a potentially terrifying trio who could rattle the tourists.

Boult, of course, is well known to India. In October 2017 in Mumbai he knocked over four Indians to inspire his team to a win. And if there is any hint of swing there are few better at exploiting it. Boult is a fancy at 11/4 with Betfair Sportsbook for top New Zealand bowler.

But in truth, we've been waiting a long time for the chance to bet Henry in this market. He is rated way down the list at 5/1. Now, consider that Boult cops at the rate of 14/5 chance and Henry at an extraordinary 13/8. Who do you want to be on?

Unfortunately, Henry might miss out on a starting berth which highlights New Zealand's strength in this series. Boult, Henry, Ferguson and Tim Southee can't all play. Well, they can but it wouldn't be very bright to go in without Ish Sodhi.

Ferguson is possibly the new Henry in this market but the 7/2 isn't a price that floats our boat. We have him more like 4/1 to take most wickets. It's a shame because we were really hoping to bet both in the expectation that one was going to keep the other out of the XI.

Kiwi six appeal

One of the great successes of this stats column has been uncovering the value on the sixes market. And we are set top wade in again for what we believe to be another wrong price.

New Zealand are 6/5 to hit most sixes with India 10/11 and the tie 13/2. On our numbers we have the home side as favourites.

In the last 12 months the Kiwis average 5.8 sixes per game compared to India's 4.3. Expand the study period to two years and it's more like a choice affair with 4.4 playing 4.8. The real edge, however, is when we take into account New Zealand's home form.

No team has hit more sixes on their own soil than New Zealand in the last two years and they average 5.08 per match. India, by contrast, are averaging 3.2 over the same period on the road.

Surely it would be remiss not to take the 6/5? Sure, the Kiwi hitters could have an off day but it's a significant edge in our favour.