After a brief, but exciting, T20 series, it’s onto the fifty-over format, as England take on India in a five match ODI series.
These are the two best ODI sides in the world, according to the ICC rankings, and with 12 months to go until the World Cup in England, the series should give a good indication of whether either are able to lift the trophy this time next year.
Our cricket expert has taken a look at the series, and given his best cricket bets to look out for..
Number one ranked England can send a message
There’s just one anomaly in England’s last eight ODI series – a narrow defeat in a one-off match to Scotland earlier this year.
Other than that, it has been complete dominance from Eoin Morgan’s side, as they’ve swept their way to the top of the world rankings.
With a year to go until the World Cup, England appear to have every single base covered – power-hitting throughout, all-round depth, and canny bowling.
In home conditions especially, they are near invincible – though they’re pretty handy in foreign climes too.
Of their last 15 ODI completed matches in England, they have won 14 – including a comprehensive 5-0 whitewash of Australia last month.
India will be a big test, however, but there’s nothing that fazes Morgan or his crack outfit.
England are 10/11 with Grosvenorsport.com to win the best-of-five series.
India a real test
They will face an Indian side who proved they can prosper in English conditions thanks to their 2-1 T20 series victory last week – often the Achilles heel for tourists from the sub-continent.
Led by Virat Kohli, arguably the greatest player in the history of ODI cricket, they’ll fear nobody, and their results back that up.
They too have been in fine form in fifty over cricket, winning each of their last nine series, including a thumping 5-1 away win over South Africa earlier this year.
Kohli led from the front, averaging 186 with three hundreds to his name, and he was ably supported by spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who cleaned up with the ball.
Yadav tied England in knots in the T20 series, and with a hot summer likely to result in dusty tracks, he could have plenty of assistance from the pitches.
India are marginal outsiders at evens for this series.
Expect big-scores, and thrilling games
ODI cricket has changed to such a degree in the past couple of years, that it wouldn’t be outlandish to say these are not just the two best sides in the world currently, but perhaps of all time.
Both have plenty of firepower with the bat, which may mean it comes down to which bowling side can deliver the most consistently across the five games.
I can see it being 3-2 either way, but given that England do know the conditions slightly better, and will be playing in front of their home crowds, I’d edge towards favouring them.
Still, expect plenty of high scores – especially from Kohli.
I suggest backing him to be series top scorer at 5/1, in what promises to be a cracking five games.
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