India have finally relented to pressure from the other Test-playing nations and will allow the use of DRS in the upcoming series with England.
It’s taken the Indian authorities eight years to fall into line with the rest of the world but, hopefully, ball-tracking will be adopted permanently from next year and give umpires an opt-out clause on the sub-continent for the first time.
After England’s travails against the spinners in Bangladesh, India are hot favourites at a best 1/6 with Ladbrokes to send Alistair Cook and his men home with their tail between their legs. There will be five Test matches between the sides with the last one scheduled to end just two days before Christmas.
Bookmakers are anticipating that India will put the tourists firmly to the sword and Ladbrokes have the home side at 4/1 to win 5-0 or 4-0 in the series correct score betting. India 3-0 is 9/1 with the same firm.
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Ravi Ashwin is predicted to be India’s destroyer in the five-match series. The spinner is now number one in the ICC Test rankings following his performance in the 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand. Unsurprisingly, Ashwin is only a best 4/9 to be India’s top bowler in the series. Captain Virat Kohli will be striving to punish England’s bowling attack and is a best 15/8 with Ladbrokes to be India’s leading run-scorer but he’ll probably be without Rohit Sharma for all five Test matches.
Stuart Broad will make his 100th Test appearance for England in the First Test in Rajkot and could be joined by Jimmy Anderson on the Second Test as England’s leading strike bowler is ahead of schedule in his return to fitness. But coach Trevor Bayliss has some big decisions to make regarding his team make-up.
Gary Ballance has surely run out of chances and England must decide whether the inexperienced Ben Duckett or Haseeb Hamed opens the batting with the captain. Jos Buttler could even return as a batsman, though he’s unlikely to replace Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps.
Broad is 7/1 with Paddy Power to be England’s leading bowler in the five Test matches but the Dublin firm have Chris Woakes at 9/1 and that is better value given the latter is fast developing into one of England’s most consistent performers. Joe Root is a best 9/4 to be England’s top batsman.
England are a best 12/1 to win the Test series in India and even the draw is a general 10/1. However, the tourists did upset the odds on their last visit, when captain Cook produced a masterclass, and another shock is not out of the question if they can subdue the threat of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and get the old ball to reverse swing.