England v Bangaldesh First Cricket Test Betting

England v Bangladesh 1st Test. England could have front line bowler problems for the First of two test matches against Bangladesh. Pace bowler Graham Onions, along with Ryan Sidebottom, have flown back to England due to injury, and there is some doubt over whether Stuart Broad, the most experienced Test bowler in the England squad, will be fit enough to play. England are already missing Jimmy Anderson, who did not travel on the tour due to injury, and if Broad, who would have been starting with the new ball, cannot start, England will have to bank on some relative inexperience.

Conditions in Bangladesh favour spin bowling, and without Broad, stand in Captain Alastair Cook will have a big decision to take, along with the selectors. They have the option of drafting in a straight replacement, probably Tim Bresnan, or simply going with four bowlers instead of five. England are not short of bowlers on the tour, they are short of experienced bowlers though. Youngster Steve Finn made an impressive debut in a warm up match, as did spinner James Tredwell, who took six wickets in the Bangladesh first innings. Ajmal Shahzad is also in line, after some steady bowling. But it is the dynamics of Broad which would be missed most, the pace and fire he can deliver, even though he has the tendency to be expensive.

Onions played with great consistency in the recent tour of South Africa, and his departure is a blow to England. With the level of opposition in Bangladesh, not being the sternest test England will face this year, the England hierarchy may not want to risk Stuart Broad, even though he has been practicing in the nets for the past couple of days. There is a long year ahead for England, and this tour has seen the rise of some of the players from the England Lions, in reaching the full squad. Batsman Craig Kieswetter hit a maiden ton in the successful ODI series for England, and batsman Michael Carberry is looking to take his big chance, with Andrew Strauss missing the tour. There are places up for grabs at the top of the batting order, especially with Kevin Pietersen still searching for form.

Pietersen, since getting back into action in the tour of South Africa, has not managed any score of note, which is a worrying sight for English cricket fans. The big hitting maverick is often the hero of the England batting, but he looks extremely short of confidence at time at the crease. After failing in the ODI’s and the warm up test match against Bangladesh A, this could be an important stage of Pietersen’s international career. But there are plenty of positives to take from this tour, and England should be able to comfortably keep their unbeaten record against Bangladesh going. The late call on Stuart Broad’s fitness, will determine the shape and balance of the England team in the first test, but whether four or five bowlers, whether it is two spinners or not, and English victory is expected.

England to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at BetFred
Bangladesh to win: 8/1 at William Hill

Series Betting (Two Tests)
England: 1/4 at ExtraBet
Drawn series: 6/1 at  Stan James
Bangladesh: 12/1 at Totesport