Test previews / Ed Hawkins / 17 July 2008 /

"The Hawkeye View" - Ed Hawkins gives us his take on Ian Botham's comments that England should stop playing Test matches in London and looks ahead to the second Test at Headingley whrere he expects Prince to score runs.

Timing is everything in life, let alone when it comes to staking a wager. So spare a thought for Ian Botham, who has espoused that Test matches should be taken away from London (because England never win there with one win in the last 11) and played elsewhere.

"English cricket is about winning matches" said Botham as he looked forward to the start of the second Test on Friday in Leeds, a long way from the capital that he can't stand, and no doubt a victory for England. The problem is England don't win in Leeds, either. Certainly less than Lord's or The Oval, the two grounds which Botham had in his sights.

Indeed, save for Trent Bridge (also not in London) statistically England have less chance of winning at Headingley than any other of their home grounds. With a win/loss ratio of 1.50 there is a good chance that come next week Beefy might be changing the target for his wrath come next week.

Granted England have won their last three Tests at Headingley but their historic record over 67 Tests there takes on greater importance in the wake of Botham's rant.

For a start, there might be a few punters out there who will take the great man's word as gospel and lump on England, they are [4.00] with South Africa [2.80] and the draw [2.40], in the hope that they will play with more freedom in Leeds than in the suffocating surrounds of London.

More importantly it is fascinating that England have such a bad record down the years at Headingley, a wicket which should be ideal for them to prosper. With seam and swing, the ground promises quintessential English conditions for the home team to romp to victory time and time again. Headingley should be South Africa's Cape Town or Sri Lanka's Galle International.

But it doesn't come close. Their average runs per wicket scored (30.6) is the worst of all seven home Test venues. And on the last five occasions there when England have bowled first with seam and swing in abundance, they have conceded an average of 400. When they bat first over the same period they average 337.

Perhaps opposition bowlers who are used to being starved of bowler-friendly conditions grasp this golden opportunity with both hands and tuck in.

Certainly South Africa did the last time they played at Headingley in 2003. They won by 191 runs with Jacques Kallis returning career best innings figures of 6-54.
It was a game notable for England's selectors going down the horses for courses route by picking tried and trusted county swingers James Kirtley, Martin Bicknell and Kabir Ali. It didn't work as the trio suffered like past England bowlers at the hands of Gary Kirsten (130) and Monde Zondeki (sic) who hit 59.

Andrew Flintoff, certain to return for this Test, played in that match and performed well, by the way. Four wickets and two 50s were his tally as he began to establish himself as a cricketer of international class.

While on the subject of class, Kevin Pietersen ([4.20] for top England first-innings bat) will go for a hat-trick of centuries to go with the two he has scored on his only two appearances on the ground for England. Told you foreigners do well there.

Pietersen is just behind Ian Bell in the top England runscorer lists but a more interesting battle is taking place among the South Africa batsmen.

Only 68 runs separate Neil McKenzie (178), Graeme Smith (115), Hashim Amla and Ashwell Prince (both 110).

The smart money may be on Prince [7.20] to overtake his team-mates. He doesn't deserve to be as big a price as that with three matches still to play, particularly at No 5 where he is protected from the new ball.

At Headingley and Edgbaston batting is not so easy upfront and with the three men ahead of him being the top three in the batting, he could arrive at the crease just when it is getting easier. But then again, first England have to learn how to make use of Headingley's conditions.

* You can follow all the action from Headingley with Ed Hawkins on betting.betfair tomorrow. Ed will be online from around 10.30 and can be contact on hawkeyeview@hotmail.co.uk with any questions.

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