International Cricket

Select this section for reports on international cricket betting team selection, match previews and other cricket betting related stories. While Australia continue to dominate in Test cricket the teams behind them are catching up in the shortest form of the game as demonstarted by India's victory at the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup.

These days being an international cricketer means cricket all year round and England's cricketers will be kept busy at the start of 2008 with tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Tour dates

December 22: Third Test vs Sri Lanka finishes

Jan 28 - Mar 26: England tour of New Zealand

May 15 - June 28: New Zealand tour of England

June 10 - Sept 3: South Africa in England

1 - 49 of 49

Betting Tips for the Third Test
29-Jul-2008

There is an old saying about sticking to what you know, and after the humiliating 10 wicket defeat to South Africa and the ignominious selection of Darren Pattinson, that is exactly what England coach Peter Moores appeared to be doing by recalling Steve Harmison.

England South Africa Final Day
14-Jul-2008

A tense final day of this first test at Lords is in the offing after England only managed one wicket at Lords today. Having been forced to follow on after only managing a meagre 247 in response to England's mammoth score of 593 over the first two days, South Africa openers Graeme Smith and Neil McKenzie put in gritty performances in the second innings to leave the tourists in a decent position overnight at 242/1.

England Takes on South Africa at Lord's
08-Jul-2008

It's the middle of Summer, England are playing South Africa at Lords on Thursday for the first match of their four game series, and guess what? It's raining.

Pietersen captains England for the first time

England v New Zealand: Fifth ODI betting
27-Jun-2008

Despite losing the fourth one-day international, being accused of bringing the spirit of cricket into disrepute and having their captain Paul Collingwood banned for four matches, England are still favourites for the fifth and final ODI at Lord's on Saturday

England - New Zealand 3rd ODI Betting
21-Jun-2008

After the semi-farcical (okay, fully-farcical) scenes during the last match-up in the NatWest series, you can almost consider this one a clean slate for both teams.

Styris returns for New Zealand in the Twenty20 match against England

England v New Zealand: Twenty20 betting
13-Jun-2008

Rather like a character in an old Walt Disney cartoon, the England players' eyes have been replaced by dollar signs this week with the announcement of the winner-takes-all $20million Twenty20 match in November

Collingwood, left, needs to find form at Trent Bridge

England vs New Zealand: Third Test preview
04-Jun-2008

They've won four of their last five Test matches and named an unchanged line-up for the fifth successive game but there is still something naggingly wrong with the bookmakers' blind faith in the England cricket team

Vaughan, right, will captain England against New Zealand

England vs New Zealand: Test series preview
01-May-2008

New Zealand's cricketers could suffer a culture shock with a potential to undermine their bid to win the three-Test series against England, which begins on May 15. The Kiwis are available at 10 on Betfair to win the series with the hosts 1.32 and the draw 5.8, but five of their key men could find it difficult to adjust

Chanderpaul has been in great from in the one-day internationals against Sri Lanka

West Indies vs Sri Lanka: cricket tips
14-Apr-2008

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been the hero for West Indies in their three-match series against Sri Lanka. Without him, it is doubtful whether the home side would have had the contest wrapped up before this evening's meaningless final match at Gros Islet.

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle should be backed for top home batsman

West Indies vs Sri Lanka: One-day series - cricket latest
10-Apr-2008

It may come as a surprise to some to see West Indies favourites to win a one-day series but the bookmakers have got their jollies right for the three matches against Sri Lanka, with game one starting today in Port of Spain.

Kevin Pietersen could be tempted to join the IPL

Cricket latest: Pietersen to be tempted?
31-Mar-2008

Despite claiming that the huge rewards on offer from the Indian Premier League are not tempting, Kevin Pietersen remains the 2/1 favourite to be the first centrally contracted England player to sign up for next month's tournament.

Cook and Collingwood are favourites to be the next captain

Cricket latest: 2nd Test - Nz vs England
11-Mar-2008

In light of England's first Test debacle against New Zealand in Hamilton – when they were humiliated by 189 runs – it has not taken the bookmakers long to attempt to make money from the misery.

Back Matthew Hoggard for series top England wicket-taker

Cricket betting: 1st Test - NZ vs England
03-Mar-2008

Could it be a case of déjà vu for bettors ahead of England's three-Test series against New Zealand, which begins in Hamilton on Tuesday night? Just as England were considered to be the stronger team before the one-day series and priced up prohibitively only to let their supporters down, there are bound to be a few concerns about taking the 8/11 about the tourists asserting their supposed dominance.

Cricket betting: 5th ODI - NZ vs England
22-Feb-2008

England insist that the momentum is with them, rather than New Zealand, for the deciding one-day international in Christchurch on Saturday morning UK time. And the bookmakers agree.

Cricket betting: one-day decider
20-Feb-2008

Following their thrilling tie in Napier, England have been installed as 4/6 favourites to beat New Zealand in Saturday's final one-day international and secure a series draw.

England need victory in Napier to level the five-match series

Cricket betting: 4th ODI - NZ vs England
18-Feb-2008

Surprise, surprise. England are back to odds-on for the fourth one-day international against New Zealand in Napier on Tuesday night. It's 8/11 that Paul Collingwood's men take the series to a thrilling finale and it is surely a cut too far.

Cricket betting: 3rd ODI - NZ vs England
13-Feb-2008

New Zealand are now no better than 1/6 to complete a stunning transformation and win the five-match one-day series against England after taking a 2-0 lead with a ten-wicket stroll at Hamilton on Monday.

Cricket betting: England in crisis
12-Feb-2008

New Zealand are now 1/7 with Bet365 to win their five-match ODI series against England after they went 2-0 up in Hamilton on Tuesday. The tourists succembed to their fourth ever 10-wicket defeat and are now a best-priced 9/2 to win the three remaining fixtures and the series.

Bell is the tip for top England runscorer at 5/1 with Ladbrokes

Cricket betting: 2nd ODI - NZ vs England
11-Feb-2008

"We didn't adapt" was the excuse that batsman Owais Shah gave for England's six-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the first one-day international in Wellington on Saturday. Punters, and there is an army of them who are on the tourists to take the five-match series, are likely to respond with "that doesn't wash".

Kevin Pietersen should be backed to be England top series runscorer

Cricket betting: One-day international - NZ vs England
08-Feb-2008

Historical form has been turned on its head before the one-day day series between New Zealand and England beings on Friday night at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

Ricky Ponting has been out of form but should be backed to be Australias top scorer

Cricket betting: Fourth Test: Australia vs India
22-Jan-2008

Australia fell short of a world record straight 17th Test victory when they lost to India in Perth and you can bet that they will be going all out to start a new run in the fourth and last Test which starts on Thursday morning in Adelaide.

Michael Vaughan's england side are on a losing run in Test cricket

Cricket betting: England hopeful for NZ test
24-Dec-2007

England captain Michael Vaughan has admitted he is worried that losing could become a habit for his beleaguered Test side, failing to notice that it is already too late.

Matthew Hoggard should return to the starting XI for the Third Test

Cricket betting: Third Test - Sri Lanka v England
17-Dec-2007

England are as big as 6/1 to level the three-Test series against Sri Lanka when the final game starts tomorrow in Galle. And it is difficult to see how they can prove the bookmakers wrong given everything is against them.

Matt Prior, centre, believes positives can be taken from England's loss in the first Test

Cricket betting: Sri Lanka v England 2nd Test
07-Dec-2007

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said it was "heartbreaking" to get so close to safety against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Kandy and that his side could take loads of positives from the game.

Cricket Betting: Sri Lanka v England
04-Dec-2007

Sri Lanka batted England out of the First Test in Kandy with Kumar Sangakkara leading the way. England supporters can get 6/4 with that Michael Vaughan's team salvage a draw at the Asgiriya Stadium.

Cricket Betting: First Test: Sri Lanka v England
29-Nov-2007

England begin a three-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Kandy on December 1 in a bid to crawl free from the rubble of the regime of Duncan Fletcher.

Muttiah Muralitharan should be backed for Sri Lanka's top wicket-taker

Cricket betting: Sri Lanka vs England series markets
27-Nov-2007

Muttiah Muralitharan is no better than 4/11 to finish as Sri Lanka's top wicket-taker in their three Test series with England which begins on December 1.

Steve Harmison has been called into the England squad ahead of the first Test

Cricket betting: Harmison fails to boost England
20-Nov-2007

Fast bowler Steve Harmison may have been called up to the England squad with hopes of making the first Test but his inclusion has done little to stop punters piling on a Sri Lanka series win.

Kevin Pietersen is due a return to cricket form and can be backed at 4/1 to top score for England

Pietersen due return to one-day form
10-Oct-2007

Talk of shouldering the burden of his side's poor record in Sri Lanka was taken quite literally by captain Paul Collingwood in the third of the five-match series when he injured his shoulder.

England will look to Kevin Pietersen for a big score

England look to KP
03-Oct-2007

Sri Lanka are 2/5 to make it two in a row against England on Thursday after romping to victory in the opening game of the five-match series.

Adam Gilchrist will hope his side can beat the new Twenty20 champions in the one-day series in India

Tourists look to repair damage
26-Sep-2007

Following the end of the county season and the World Twenty20 competition in South Africa one could be forgiven for thinking that cricket would take a back seat for a while.

Sachin Tendulkar will be playing his last game at Lord's

Tendulkar to say fond farewell
08-Sep-2007

It is fitting that the seven-match series between England and India has come to a decider at Lord's on Saturday for two reasons.

Pietersen has suffered a drop in form but is good value to rediscover his touch

England backed to calm the nerves
04-Sep-2007

It is panic stations all round when the sixth one-dayer between England and India takes place at The Oval on Wednesday. England are fretting after being well beaten at Headingley while the bookies are doing likewise, hoping that the hosts can hold on for a series victory.

India's performance at Headingley was a marked improvement

India pile on the pressure
03-Sep-2007

England have drifted to 1/3 from 1/12 to win the Natwest Series after losing to India at Headingley, Ladbrokes said on Sunday.

India will want to make Kevin Pietersen pay for his arrogant comments

Pietersen sets England up for fall
29-Aug-2007

Kevin Pietersen is well-known for being brash and cocky. And who can blame him considering he is one of the best batsmen in the world. Yet he is not one of the world's greatest thinkers.

Andrew Flintoff's recent return for England could pay further dividens

Flintoff to provide Bristol cream
24-Aug-2007

Before the start of the seven-match one-day series against England, Rahul Dravid, the India captain, identified Andrew Flintoff as the main threat to his side's chances. Dravid was hardly flinging himself from the fence with such a statement but he could soon be cowering behind it if Flintoff's early form carries on.

India's batsmen need to perform to recapture their one-day form

India to recover one-day form?
23-Aug-2007

If you have backed India at short odds to beat England in the seven-match one-day series you may be wondering whether after the evidence of game one, it is one of the worst wagers of your life.

Ian Bell can take advantage of his teammates poor form

Bell backed for top scorer
21-Aug-2007

There looks to be oodles of value on England's top runscorer list when the hosts take on India in the first of seven one-day matches at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday. The reason is that England's two best one-day players, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood, look out of sorts with the willow.

Sourav Ganguly, right, showed good form throughout the Test series

India to confirm superiority
20-Aug-2007

There are plenty of bad omens for England as they look to upset the 13/8 odds () in their marathon seven-match one-day series against India, which starts at Hampshire Rose Bowl on Monday.

Andrew Flintof should return for the December Test series in Sri Lanka

England need old faces to return
13-Aug-2007

If Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard - Steve Harmison even - were important to England before the 1-0 series reverse against India, then they became crucial in the aftermath.

Tendulkar could go on to punish England for his let off

Third Test: in-running advice
10-Aug-2007

After the first day of play at The Oval in the third and final Test it would be fair to say that things did not exactly go to plan for England captain Michael Vaughan.

Michael Vaughan will be confident of winning at The Oval

England backed to level series
09-Aug-2007

When betting on the third and final Test between England and India remember two things; firstly England are still the No. 2 side in the world and secondly they do not lose at The Oval very often.

Panesar's spin will be a handful on a bouncy Oval track

England bowlers hold key
06-Aug-2007

As expected England named the same 12 for the third and final Test against India which was on duty for the defeat at Trent Bridge. Stuart Broad is again included and England could be tempted to bring him in at the expense of James Anderson.

Jessica Taylor is obviously behind Kp's loss of form

Bookies bashed by India win
01-Aug-2007

If you were unfortunate to be on the end of an important toss at Trent Bridge after having backed England, at least you can console yourself with the news that the bookmakers took a pounding.

Zaheer Khan, right, bowled superbly to defy England

2nd Test: What did we learn?
31-Jul-2007

On the last day of the second Test, just before England's players took to the field in their fruitless bid to prevent India taking a 1-0 lead, batting coach Andy Flower was asked whether the home side were feeling hard done by.

Tendulkar, right, and friends struggled against the swinging ball

First Test: what did we learn?
24-Jul-2007

Despite England failing to keep their backers happy - for either game one or the series - there was still something reassuring about the drawn first Test. The status quo remains: Indian batsmen struggle in English conditions when the ball swings and seams.

England will hope for a good series start with victory against India at Lord's

England to Lord it up
18-Jul-2007

With three draws in the last three matches at Lord's and England's weather wetter than a car wash forecourt, it is easy to see why the stalemate is as short as 4-6 for the first Test between England and India, which starts at Lord's this week.

Rahul Dravid is a sound bet to be India's top runscorer in the series at 7/2

Dravid to top the list
18-Jul-2007

There are likely to be quite a few takers of the 11-4 that Sachin Tendulkar outscores his team-mates over the three-Test series against England, which starts with game one at Lord's this week. After all he is the Little Master, the best since Don Bradman and widely regarded as a genius, praise not to be taken lightly.

Panesar, middle, may even show the Indian batsmn a thing or two about spin bowling

Back England for series win
17-Jul-2007

If you subscribe to the view that the better bowling attack proves decisive in Test matches, and you should, then it is tough not to take the view that England will be too good for India in the three-match series which starts at Lord's on Thursday.