Off the back of a rain-affected Second Test in which England dominated India, Trent Bridge is the venue for the Third Test between the two nations.
India need to win to have any chance of claiming the series, whereas England will have real hope of a whitewash against the number one team in Test cricket. Our cricket expert looks at the best bets for the upcoming Test.
England looking to continue momentum
After an excellent and thoroughly professional performance in the second test, unsurprisingly England enter this game as favourites, whereas India are outsiders at 3/1. With not much rain forecast in Nottingham over the next week, you would expect a result to be decided within the five days, and I expect that result to be a resounding England win, available at 8/13.
Cookie not crumbling yet
Despite some indifferent innings from England opener Alastair Cook in the series so far, his calmness at the crease has given England platforms from which they have consistently built from.
After a magnificent 180 for the England Lions before the series started, Cook is due another big total. With Grosvenorsport.com he is 15/2 to be the top scoring batsman in the first innings, and I think this is good value.
Kohli pride wounded
Much was made before the series started of Virat Kohli’s perceived poor performances in England. That was quickly put to bed with a magnificent 1st match, in which he scored 149 and 51 in the first and second innings respectively.
India rely on Kohli to anchor their batting a lot, and he thrives in this pressurised environment. If india are to perform in this test, it will be because of the efforts of their captain, and Kohli to score over 42.5 runs can be found at 5/6.
Bowlers Buffet
England have been blessed with two of the best pace bowlers of their generation holding down an end with the new ball for a decade now, and in Trent Bridge’s notoriously swinging conditions, James Anderson and Stuart Broad should both have a field day.
Anderson is rapidly closing in on Glenn McGrath’s record for most wickets ever taken by a pace bowler in Test matches, whereas Broad is no slouch with over 400 Test wickets himself.
I think both have an excellent chance of getting Man of the Match after being pipped by fellow speedster Chris Woakes at Lord’s. Anderson can be backed at 7/1, however I think Stuart Broad, on his home ground, will put on a show for his fans and be crowned Man of the Match, which is good value at 11/1.
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