Couch Critic provides his betting tips for the third test match between England and West Indies which starts in Manchester on Friday including best bets from @Olimp_SA
ENGLAND VS WEST INDIES - Friday 24 July, Old Trafford Manchester
Off the back of a Ben Stoke one-man demolition job we head stay in Manchester for a repeat dose in the third and final test of the series. On the betting front Stokes brought home the bacon whilst it was agonising watching Broad come up just short with the ball. Let’s try and make it an even better final test.
Setting the Scene
England didn’t look all that competent having been sent in at Old Trafford but Sibley and Stokes steadied the ship before sailing off into the distance with a partnership in excess of 250. From that point on the Windies were always just looking to hang on for the draw and unfortunately for them they didn’t quite have the bottle to achieve this. For all their fighting spirit the Islanders aren’t the type of batting unit which thrives at merely keeping an attack out and it is their rather free-spirited approach, that many so admire, which backfired on them this time around.
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How I see it Playing Out
It is amazing to think that the English selectors are so spoilt for choice that a second-choice bowling attack was able to dismiss the visitors twice in the second test. Now, they have a pretty considerable arsenal to chose from for the series decider. The go-to ploy of reverting to short bowling as soon as the ball gets bit older and a partnership seems to have been established paid off handsomely in the first outing in Manchester and it’s hard to see how the West Indies are going to find a way of handling this threat at the second time of asking.
Whilst the hosts are spoilt with fresh bowling options raring to be rolled back out the men from the Caribbean will be worried that the likes of Roach and Gabriel will be a touch weary given the short turnaround between tests. Shai Hope has shown no signs of returning to form which is another big concern for the visitors.
Roston Chase enjoyed the Old Trafford track in the second test and I see the spinners playing a big part in this third test as well. That is of course if the weather doesn’t come and spoil the party for good this time around.
Betolimp Best Bets
Top England 1st Innings Batsman – Ben Stokes @ 6.00
Stokes showed signs of being in decent touch yet will be kicking himself for not kicking on and making a big one. Th new ball should again prove dangerous but thereafter there could be some runs on offer for the lower middle order on this Old Trafford wicket.
Top Windies 1st Innings Bowler – Roston Chase @ 8.50
Yes there is rain about but we saw in the second test that this track certainly does take some spin. If the Poms get away to a good first innings total the chances are there that the spinner gets to put in a big shift and hopefully ends with the big wicket haul. Given the need to rest some quicks Cornwall might very well get a run but at the price I will have a nibble at Chase.
Top England 1st Inns Bowler – Stuart Broad @ 4.00
This is an easy selection for me. Were it not for conceding a few too many runs, Broad would have collected for us in the second test. Having sat out the first test Broad will be fit and hungry to keep going so I expect him to get a repeat run alongside Archer as well as Woakes and/or Anderson.
To Score a Fifty in the 1st Innings – Root YES @ 2.20
I passed over Root last week as I felt you would show some rust in his first outing. This time around I am happy to have the skipper on board as I expect him to lead the charge on the run scoring front.
Sixes & Fours
The weather is indeed a threat that needs to be considered, but as we saw in the previous test – the home side will be pushing this along to try and get a result as they don’t want to share the series and in so doing see the West Indies leave with the trophy. At the same time the men in marron, by nature, enjoy free scoring and as such they comfortably chalked up more fours than the Poms in the previous test.
England Total Sixes - over 2,5 @ 2.10
Most fours – West Indies (look out for a price to come)
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Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change
Couch Critic
