England: Any hope Down Under?

With Bet365 currently offering 8/1 on England winning the Commonwealth Bank One Day series below New Zealand at 11/2 it looks as if the bookies are predicting more misery for English cricket fans. This is no surprise and the odds might have been longer given that England's form in recent years has shown them to be even less reliable in 1 day than over 5. Michael Vaughan's return to the helm might conceivably bring a return of fortunes. After all much of the Ashes misery can be put down to his absence not just as a captain but as a batsman who has been known to score centuries against Australia when others fail. However, aside from the eternal optimists, the idea that an out of practice Vaughan can turn around the fortunes of this dismal tour to the point of victory against the world's best, seems very doubtful. Stuart Clark will no doubt continue to bowl an exasperatingly good line and length and Hussey and Ponting will persist in their technically flawless batting. With 5 batsmen and 3 bowlers in the top ten of the ICC's ODI rankings, Australia rule supreme whilst Pietersen is the only Englishman amongst the top ten. To make matters worse New Zealand have the talented Bond and Vettori in the bowling category, and whilst it will be interesting to see the left arm spin battle between Panesar and Vettori, England will need a lot more from the other bowlers if they are to record even a single victory.However, perhaps the Ashes whitewash will make the bookies over confident with their odds and England might just be able to turn around their fortunes whilst attractive odds are on offer. If the potential of Strauss, Bell and Vaughan can be realised combined with a continuation of Pietersen's destructive form, perhaps the batsman will be able to make up for England's admittedly under par bowling attack.The one bowler showing serious promise is Panesar and with the potential to not only tie down an end, but to take wickets, William Hill's odds at 3.75 on him taking the most for England looks a good bet even if it must surely be money down the drain to back England for the series.To Win Outright Commonwealth Bank Series 2007 Win Only Australia 1/5 New Zealand 11/2 England 8/1 Odds by Bet365