Can England bowlers trouble South Africa?(credit:
slint4857)
England have won their last five completed one-day internationals against South Africa but punters are deserting them ahead of the upcoming series with the Proteas.
The Three Lions prevailed 4-0 at home last year, with only a Cardiff wash-out preventing a clean-sweep, and again came out on top in the recent ICC Champions Trophy held in South Africa.
However, Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “We can’t give England away at the moment, all the money so far has been on South Africa to dominate not just the first one-day international but the series as well.
"The England batsmen seem to have applied themselves pretty well in the two one-day warm-up games.
"But with Anderson and Broad injured and Mahmood and Bresnan failing to impress with the ball, England may struggle to dominate one of the best batting line-ups in the world.”
England are a top-priced 5/2 with Ladbrokes to take the forthcoming five-match series, with South Africa 3/8 at best with totesport to follow up two recent series wins over Australia with another victory.
The Proteas are 6/1 at totesport to secure a 5-0 whitewash, 5/2 to prevail 4-1 and 9/4 for a 3-2 triumph.
The Three Lions are 7/2 at Ladbrokes to shade the series 3-2, 12/1 to get home by a 4-1 scoreline and 50/1 for a 5-0 clean-sweep.
Paddy Power are offering a special handicap bet and go 8/13 for England with a 1.5 games start and 6/5 South Africa finish at least two matches to the good.
Stan James make the home side 1/2 favourites to hit more individual centuries, with the tourists 6/4 here.