England v India: Our 12/1 tip for the first Test

30 Jul

Cricket

Back Joe Root's side to get the summer's flagship series off to a winning start, with key contributions from Alastair Cook and Adil Rashid.

Make the most of #BetYourWay by creating your own markets for selected matches.

Simply tweet us your request @betway, using the hashtag #BetYourWay, and we'll get it priced up.

Here's Adam Drury's pick to get you started...

England to win –

England have won the first Test in five of their last seven home series, and can extend that run this week.

The hosts have won all of their last three Tests at Edgbaston, while India – who were patchy in last week’s warm-up match against Essex – have not won the opening match in any of their last six series on these shores.

Alastair Cook to score a 50 in either innings –

Cook hit 45 and 66 on this ground against Pakistan two years ago, before demonstrating his phenomenal endurance by racking up 243 against West Indies 12 months ago.

Having scored 180 against India A for the England Lions a couple of weeks ago, the former skipper is poised to go big at Edgbaston.

Adil Rashid to take over 2.5 match wickets –

Rashid’s controversial selection has divided opinion, but that he is in excellent form is undeniable.

The 30-year-old was England’s leading wicket-taker during the recent ODI series, while he has turned in two excellent T20 performances for Yorkshire since being named in this squad.

He may not have bowled a red ball for 11 months, but he did take 23 wickets in five Tests in India in 2016, and his mystery spin at least guarantees wickets against the tail-end.

Mohammed Shami 1^st innings wickets: Over 1.5 –

England’s top order has been regularly exposed by good seam bowling for years, and Shami looks likely to be their next tormenter.

Keaton Jennings is the obvious target at the top of the order, but there is enough concern over the form of Joe Root, Dawid Malan and Ben Stokes for this to be a safe bet.