England v West Indies: Second Test preview, analysis, predictions and free tips

Free tips, best bets and analysis for the England v West Indies second Test at Old Trafford starting on Thursday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Cricket, from 11am Thursday

Best bets

Shannon Gabriel top West Indies wicket-taker
1pt 100-30 Hills
Ben Stokes top England first-innings runscorer
1pt 4-1 bet365
Ben Stokes to score a fifty in the match
3pts 11-10 bet365

Match preview

It is said that practice makes perfect so the West Indies will be hoping that preparing for their three-match Test series with England at Old Trafford will pay dividends over the next fortnight.

The Windies lived and trained at the Manchester venue, scene of both the second and third Tests, on their arrival in England on June 9, playing two warm-up matches prior to last week's first Test in Southampton.

Jason Holder's men were exemplary in victory at the Ageas Bowl yet are still chalked up as 7-4 outsiders to complete a first series victory in England since 1988.

They should be full of confidence after heading back to Manchester with a 1-0 advantage, but England are still odds-on to win back the Wisden Trophy they lost in the Caribbean 18 months ago.

The hosts will welcome back captain Joe Root after he missed the first Test to attend the birth of his second child. Joe Denly will make way for the skipper with Zak Crawley moving up to number three.

England are just 2-5 to level the series this week but that is an especially skinny price for a team who still have questions over their top order.

Root's return will help to shore up that weakness but the hosts have an inexperienced top three and there are still doubts over Jos Buttler's form and suitability to Test cricket.

Windies captain Holder did most of the damage in the first match with six wickets in the first innings but Shannon Gabriel was not far behind with four victims in England's first dig and five in their second.

The burly paceman has had injury problems but he warmed up for the series with eight wickets in the Windies' intra-squad friendly at Old Trafford and will be a handful again on what has historically been one of England's quickest pitches.

Success in England is nothing new for Gabriel - he has taken 20 wickets in four Tests - and his express pace should unsettle England's fragile batting unit.

England captain Root and World Cup hero Ben Stokes are undoubtedly the hosts' two best batsmen and are likely to put up the most resistance to a highly-skilled Windies attack.

Yorkshireman Root has an outstanding record across the Pennines, averaging 85 in nine innings at Old Trafford, but Stokes looked at ease at the crease in the opener.

He has only one fifty to show for five Test innings in Manchester but the 29-year-old has averaged nearly 48 in his last ten Tests and some of his best innings for England have come on quick wickets.

He gets the nod to underpin England's first innings and is also a tempting 11-10 chance to notch a half-century in the match.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits.

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport