England Cricket back in Twenty20 Action

England are set to play Pakistan in back to back Twenty20 Internationals, on Friday and Saturday. These are warm up matches ahead of the tour of Bangladesh, which runs from February 23 to March 24. The two matches are a stern test against one of the best exponents of the shortened format of the game. Although England do not play Bangladesh at Twenty20 during the tour, there is a matter of three ODI’s and two Test matches. England’s first team warmed up against the England Lions, a match which the selectors should have been casting a good eye over, as the Lions, essentially England’s B team, beat the star studded main team.

The Lions’ success was largely down to South African born wicket keeper Craig Kieswetter, who is having a remarkable tour with the Lions. His average in his matches on tour? 93. Yes, 93. That’s stark contrast to the England senior top five, who all went cheaply in the friendly contest. But England have ruled out any place for Kieswetter in the two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan, simply because they are trying to build a top order around Joe Denly and Jonathan Trott. England apparently want to put trust in gaining some kind of continuity. This will of course mean that keeper Matt Prior will be under severe pressure to perform. Spinner Adil Rashid always made a claim for his future in the senior England squad after taking 3-22.

But as England’s next endeavour in Twenty20 doesn’t come until April in the ICC World Twenty20, England are choosing not to switch up the order again. There is of course no Andrew Strauss on the tour of the UAE and Bangladesh, as controversially he has decided to take himself a break away from the game after a long year. The tour of Bangladesh should be England’s easiest contest in another action packed year of cricket, but Strauss’s decision has left pundits scratching their heads as to how the England captain can walk away from leading his team at his leisure. The England captain’s argument is that he wants to be sharp and ready for the year ahead, which includes the defence of the Ashes. Opening batsman Alistair Cook takes over the captaincy for the Test Matches in Bangladesh, while Paul Collingwood will carry on captaining the Twenty20 side.

England 2010 Tour of Bangladesh Dates

One Day Internationals v Bangladesh
February 28th, Mirpur
March 2nd, Mirpur
March 5th, Chittagong

Test Matches v Bangladesh
March 12th to 16th, Chittagong
March 20th to 24th, Mirpur

BANGLADESH v ENGLAND BETTING

First ODI (3 matches)
England to win: 1/4 at Totesport
Bangladesh to win: 15/4 at Bwin

ODI Series Betting
England to win: 2/7 at SkyBet
Bangladesh: 4/1 at Blue Square

PAKISTAN v ENGLAND BETTING
1st Twenty20 International
England to win: 6/5 at Totesport
Pakistan to win: 10/11 at SportingBet

SERIES BETTING: England v Pakistan Twenty 20 (2 Matches)
Pakistan to win: 11/5 at Stan James
England to win: 7/2 at Totesport
Drawn Series: 11/10 at Ladbrokes