1st Test: England vs West Indies
A few firsts to begin with sports betting fans.
This opening test at Edgbaston is the first floodlit test match ever to be played in England.
It’s the first of a three-match series.
And it’s the first of nine meetings between the nations across the next six weeks once you throw a T20 International and a five match one-day series into the equation.
Now for the betting odds: England are clear favourites 1X2 @ 1.20 (compared to the tourists 1X2 @ 11.00) with Asian Handicap betting odds 0.00 England @ 1.03 and West Indies @ 7.66.
But perhaps this day/night format, this new frontier – it’s only the fifth ever test to be played under lights across the globe – will prove more of a leveller.
Certainly, lunch at 4 pm will take some getting used to!
The fans seem to be intrigued by it.
Compared to 12 months ago and the England-Pakistan test, 25 per cent more tickets have been sold – seemingly both to a new legion of fans as well as the traditional test-match supporters
Most fitting for Edgbaston as it prepares to host its 50th test match.
England will fancy it. This is an ailing West Indies side, a far cry from the days of Sir Viv Richards, Michael Holding, Brian Lara and Sir Garfield Sobers – to name just four.
A far cry from the hostile pit which awaits them in the autumn when Joe Root will lead his team into an Ashes battle in Brisbane.
However, the West Indies test is far more than about victory – it’s about rediscovering a consistent winning habit before what will surely be a bruising tour of Australia starting in November.
Enjoy what lies ahead and a little bit of history!
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
