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England v South Africa Natwest Series Betting

ENGLAND V SOUTH AFRICA NATWEST ODI SERIES BETTING - 22nd AUGUST TO 3rd SEPTEMBER

The NatWest Series is a 5-match series of One Day International matches, taking place between England and South Africa at the end of August / beginning of September 2008. The match schedule is 22nd August at Headingley, Leeds, 26th August at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 29th August at The Oval and 31st August at Lord’s, with the final match of the series, unusually, taking place at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens on 3rd September. South Africa are 1/2 favourites with 888sport to win the series, with England a best-priced 13/8 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes. Correct score betting is available, with the hosts priced at 100/30 with Stan James for a 3-2 series victory, 17/2 with Bet365 to win 4-1 and 40/1 with skybet to win 5-0. The visitors are priced at 2/1 with Stan James to win 3-2, 3/1 with Ladbrokes to win 4-1 and 8/1 with skybet to win 5-0.

Skipper Pietersen revamps England batting order

Kevin Pietersen’s first decision in his new role as captain of England’s senior ODI side has been to promote Owais Shah to number three in the team’s batting order. Since being appointed captain just before the fourth and final Test against South Africa, Pietersen has not had much time to think about his options for the NatWest Series. However, as England warmed up with an inaugural one-day international against Scotland at the Grange, Shah was firmly established at number three. The Middlesex batsman did not get the chance to show off his talents in the new position, with England’s chase of a victory target of 159 being abandoned after only 2.3 overs following a downpour, but signals a change of policy under the Pietersen regime. The new skipper’s opinion is that Shah is a high, quick scoring player, with a good range of shots, who is wasted batting down the order. He achieved a one-day century against India last season and has been scoring runs this season. Pietersen intends to improve his confidence by having him bat at number three, with Pietersen himself at number four. Pietersen also pushed the recalled Matt Prior to the top of the order and watched Andrew Flintoff make an impressive ODI return with three for 21 as Scotland were restricted to 156 for nine. Former England and Yorkshire all-rounder Gavin Hamilton, who played one Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1999, top-scored for the Scots with 60 off 119 balls, including seven boundaries, before becoming the first of Flintoff’s victims. The middle of the England batting order looks at its strongest for a while with Andrew Flintoff, Ravi Bopara and Stuart Broad all credible performers. Paul Collingwood will provide further steel when his suspension is complete. However, despite the basis of a decent side, England still appears to be lacking in key areas. The opening partnership of Ian Bell and wicketkeeper Matthew Prior is hardly revolutionary, suggesting a lack of new ideas, while James Anderson and Flintoff undoubtedly need better support at the beginning and end of opponents’ innings.

ODI recall for Herschelle Gibbs

South Africa has no similar concerns and will open with captain Graeme Smith and the recalled Herschelle Gibbs. Hard-hitting Gibbs is a major plus for South Africa, given his destructive ODI performances. He is most memorable for his 111-ball 175 against Australia in 2006. His innings, which included 21 fours and 7 sixes, helped South Africa to pull off the greatest one-day run chase of all time, scoring 435, the highest-ever score in one-day International cricket. AB de Villiers already knows he has the beating of the England bowlers and there is a second Morkel, Albie, to support the genuinely unnerving Dale Steyn. All-rounder Albie Morkel, elder brother of quick bowler Morne, missed the successful Test series, but is keen to ensure South Africa end their already impressive tour of England on a high. However, he admitted that his greatest challenge would be re-adapting to the intensity of international cricket.

South Africa is best one-day team to visit these shores in three years and some exceptional one-day cricket is expected as a fitting end to a poor summer for England.

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