Back England to edge thrilling contest

One-day series & first ODI
Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 12.30pm Thursday

It's not often that a series against Australia provides a gentle warm-up for tougher tests ahead but that is the case for England’s one-day team this summer.

Having swatted aside the underpowered Aussies 5-0, England can expect a far closer contest in their three ODIs against an India side who signalled their intent with a 2-1 win in the Twenty20 series.

Skipper Virat Kohli described 50-over cricket as “brutal” for bowlers with the use of two new balls making it harder for spinners and reducing the threat of reverse swing later in the innings.

And the England batsmen have shown little mercy in recent outings, blasting a record total of 481-6 against Australia at Trent Bridge, venue for the opening game against India.

The Nottingham ground also witnessed the previous highest ODI score – England’s 444-3 against Pakistan in 2016 – and more of the same looks likely given the top-class batting units on display.

Best bets
England’s white-ball strength was highlighted by the fact that they whitewashed Australia without all-rounder Ben Stokes, who returned from injury in Sunday’s Twenty20 decider in Bristol .

With Stokes back in the side, the hosts bat even deeper and that could prove a key factor given their ultra-aggressive approach.

India are more dependent on their top four batsmen firing, although MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya have to be respected further down the order.

Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal troubled England in the first T20 clash but Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali have been excellent in ODIs for the home side.

A tight series is in prospect but England’s remarkable batting depth and their bowlers’ experience in these conditions mean they could edge it.

Another runfest is expected at Trent Bridge and the 5-6 about any batsman scoring 111 or more is well worth a bet.

India scored two centuries in the three-match Twenty20 series while English batsmen have made scores of 106 not out, 113, 93, 95 not out, 171, 85, 90, 139 and 147 in the last four completed ODIs in Nottingham.

India stars Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have 65 ODI tons between them in 475 innings and they know how to cash in on a flat pitch – Sharma has scored 264, 209 and 208 not out in 50-over internationals.

David Willey dismissed Dhawan twice and Kohli once in the Twenty20s, following a decent series against Australia in which he steered England home with an unbeaten 35 at The Oval and took 4-43 at the Riverside.

The all-rounder is full of confidence with bat and ball – he scored 202 runs and took 11 wickets for Yorkshire in just three One-Day Cup appearances – and he can eclipse a performance line of 36.5.

Jos Buttler proved this summer that when a player is in top form the format doesn’t really matter and the same may well apply to India’s Lokesh Rahul.

Like Buttler, Rahul enjoyed a magnificent IPL campaign and his four Twenty20 innings on this tour include 70 against Ireland and 101 not out off 54 balls against England.

His orthodox but devastating strokeplay looks ideal for ODIs – he scored a century on his debut against Zimbabwe but batted in every position in the top five in eight subsequent innings – and the odds on him top-scoring in the opening game are tasty.

ODI series recommendation
England to win 2-1
2pts 6-4 Betfair, Paddy Power
First ODI recommendations
Highest individual score over 110.5
3pts 5-6 bet365
D Willey over 36.5 performance points
2pts 5-6 bet365
L Rahul top India runscorer
1pt 9-2 Betfair, Betway

Read Racing Post Sport and racingpost.com/sport every day for the best World Cup betting coverage

Today's top sports betting stories

Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips for the World Cup

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport