Cricket Betting: England Friendless Against India

Cricket Betting: England Friendless Against India

Kevin Pietersen is now available at 5/1 to take a wicket in the first innings

©REUTERS / Action Images

England head in to their first Test against India completely friendless with punters according to Ladbrokes, who have released their latest cricket betting odds for the series.

India are strongly fancied to get off to a flier at 8/11 with England left untouched as the 4/1 underdogs, even with the inclusion of Kevin Pietersen. And it's not looking too promising either for Andy Flower's side in the outright betting with India looking home and dry as the odds-on favourites at 8/15.

However, if there is one man to lead England towards an unexpected victory the money suggests it will be Pietersen who tops the batting in the first innings at 7/2 or 3/1 during the series. There's also a 12/1 chance he caps off his 'second début'  for the team with a Man of the Match worthy performance.

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: "The injuries to Finn and Broad during the warm-up games left us with no choice bar to push England out, but not even the most loyal and patriotic punters are backing England at the bigger price, showing how hard a task they face in India."

She added: "One minute punters are backing KP to never play for England again, the next he's fancied to champion the side towards victory. He's very much the Jekyll and Hyde of the England team this year but a strong performance in India could soon resurrect his on/off relationship with England fans."

Ladbrokes latest betting

Series betting

India 8/15
England 4/1
Draw 7/2

1st Test betting

India 11/8
England 4/1
Draw 6/5

Top England Batsman 1st Innings

Pietersen 7/2
Cook 7/2
Trott 7/2
Bell 5/1
Root 5/1
Compton 5/1
Morgan 8/1
Bairstow 8/1
Prior 10/1
Patel 10/1
33/1 bar

Top India Batsman 1st Innings

Kohli 7/2
Sehwag 4/1
Gambhir 4/1
Tendulkar 9/2
Pujara 5/1
Vijay 5/1
Rahene 6/1
Singh 8/1
Dhoni 10/1
33/1 bar

Pietersen specials

First Innings Runs

5/6 Over 32.5
5/6 Under 32.5

Man of the Match: 12/1

Method of dismissal First Innings

8/15 Caught
9/2 Bowled
7/2 LBW
16/1 Run Out
16/1 Stumped
100/1 Other

To score 100 in the First Innings

7/2 Yes
1/6 No

To score 200 in the First innings

10/1 Yes
1/50 No

To score 300 in the First innings

33/1 Yes
1/500 No

To be dismissed by Yuvraj Singh

Yes 9/2
No 1/8

To take a wicket in the first innings

Yes 5/1
No 1/9