After another successful edition of The Hundred, England’s best Test players return to international action with a Test series against Pakistan, starting Wednesday. If you’re a bit new to all this, here’s how a Test series works, the key team news, our cool fun fact and a betting tip to keep you interested.
Archer to Hit The Ground Running in the First Test
- Start: Wednesday, August 19, 11:00
- Venue: Headingley Ground, Leeds, England.
- Live Coverage: Sky Sports
- Fun Fact: Though Pakistan are regular visitors to England for a Test series, the same can’t be said of the reverse: England travelling to Pakistan. England didn’t play a Series in Pakistan for 17 years between 2005 and 2022 over security concerns. When they finally travelled over there three years ago, they lost the three-match Series 2-0. Two years later, England returned and lost it 2-1 this time.
If you were to ask Pakistan’s batsmen which England bowler they were most afraid of facing, the answer would probably be: Jofra Archer.
- Best Bet: Back Jofra Archer to be England First Innings Top Bowler
- Odds: 4.0 (at the time of writing)
After all, he’s the quickest, most aggressive and, to an extent, most skilful bowler they have. His numbers are good enough anyway, but would have been even better if he hadn’t been out of the game for almost three years with injuries.
So it’s a surprise he’s the 4.0 fifth-favourite.
He’s played plenty this summer, including some good performances in the recently concluded Hundred, and seems fit and injury-free at last, so he looks overpriced at 4.0 to be England's first-innings top bowler.
England Addressing the Root of the Problem (and Other Team News)
After England’s recent 2-1 loss to New Zealand just over a month ago, skipper Ben Stokes resigned the captaincy and quit international cricket entirely, leaving England without a captain.
Though superstar batsman Harry Brook was considered for the role, it was eventually given to Joe Root, the man Stokes had succeeded as captain back in 2022, in what was seen very much as the ‘safe’ choice, so this will be Root’s first Series in his second spell as captain.
Elsewhere, England will have to make do without Jacob Bethell, their 'next big thing', who is currently injured, while they’ll be delighted to have aggressive and pacy bowler Jofra Archer available.
As for Pakistan, Babar Azam is also in charge as captain of his team for the second time, but he’s in danger of missing the First Test with a finger injury. Opener Imam Ul-Haq and keeper Mohammad Rizwan will be expected to come up with runs, while veteran seam bowler Mohammad Abbas is their class act with the ball.
Latest Series and First Test Odds
Despite the recent 2-1 loss to New Zealand, England are 1.55 to win the Series, with Pakistan at 4.0 and a draw at 5.5. Obvious as it seems to be backing England in home conditions, they haven’t been at their best for a couple of years now, while Pakistan can generally be relied on for one strong performance; so consider either a drawn Series at a high price or England to win it 2-1.
It’s no surprise England are also strong favourites at 1.53 to win the First Test, with Pakistan 3.7 and a draw 6.0.
(New) England skipper Joe Root and Brook are 4.2 and 4.5, respectively, to be England's first-innings top batsmen, while Babar Azam (4.5), Saud Shakeel (5.0) and Ul-Haq at 6.0 are favourites on the Pakistan side.
If you’re looking for considerably higher prices, diminutive England opener Ben Duckett is generally very consistent and worthy of consideration at 14.0 to be Player of the Match, with Root at 10.0 and that man Archer at 11.0 on the same market.
For Pakistan, Abbas, a bowler who can practically make the ball talk and Azam, ranked Number 9 in the world Test batting rankings, are at 12.0 and 18.0.
