England v Pakistan, 1st Test – 05/08/2020

England v Pakistan 1st Test Preview – Betting Tips, Latest Odds, Team News and Predictions – 05/08/2020

England and Pakistan’s Test rivalry resumes with their first series in the United Kingdom in two years. They drew their two-match series last time around – and this three-match affair presents plenty of opportunity for an outright winner.

Our free cricket betting tips and predictions will help you navigate this series. We’ll also provide you with the popular odds provided by the best Indian betting sites for cricket.

Best Bets:

One run off the first ball of the match at 8.00 with 22Bet

Match to end in draw at 4.33 with Unibet

England to have the highest opening partnership at 1.57 with bet365

England v Pakistan 1st Test – Match Preview

Where: Old Trafford, Manchester

When: Wednesday, 5 August 2020

Start Time: 16:30 IST (11:00 GMT)

Pitch conditions: Old Trafford will host an unprecedented third successive Test. Head groundsman Matt Merchant said it takes 10 days to prepare a pitch between Test matches.

The timeline is tight for the wicket to be prepared properly. West Indies captain Jason Holder opted to bowl first twice earlier this month. Both occasions backfired.

Weather conditions: The same rain that interrupted the second and third Tests between England and the West Indies could return to this one.

Showers are predicted for days one and three, amid otherwise overcast conditions. Days two and five should bring the brightest skies.

England v Pakistan 1st Test – Latest Odds

10Cric have priced Pakistan at 9.00 to take victory in the opening Test, while England are offered at 1.53.

Pakistan won the series opener against England in 2018, though that was at Lord’s. They have beaten England in a Test match at Old Trafford once. That was in 2001.

England v Pakistan 1st Test – Team News

England have an unchanged squad for this series opener. Whether the XI will go unchanged, though, remains to be seen. They’ll likely rotate their pace attack a bit.

James Anderson should stay in at his home ground, while Stuart Broad is in fine form. Chris Woakes enjoyed a fourth-innings five-for against the West Indies recently. Jofra Archer might make way for Mark Wood.

Or maybe Ben Stokes will be rested, which could afford fellow all-rounder Sam Curran or specialist batsman Zak Crawley a return to the XI.

Pakistan might go into the match with two left-arm seamers on opposite sides of their careers. Shaheen Afridi is just starting his and has a lot to prove, while Wahab Riaz is nearing the end of his. This could be his last hurrah in Test cricket, particularly.

The tourists’ batting resources will likely centre around Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam. Fawad Alam is in line for a recall, having last played Test cricket 10 years ago. Either way, more than one of Pakistan’s top- through middle-order need to stand up to England’s dominant seam attack.

England v Pakistan – Squads

England v Pakistan 1st Test – Betting Tips and Prediction

England have only won four more Tests than Pakistan in their head-to-head Test history. England have also copped a few Test series losses to Pakistan in the United Kingdom.

Let’s see how the cricket odds have the teams and players priced for this series. Read on for our expert betting tips for the first Test.

Back a Single off the First Ball of the Match

We’re big fans of this market. It provides a result at the very start of the match. 22Bet have a single to be scored off the first ball of the match priced at 8.00.

In a format that usually sees the opening delivery blocked or left alone, one run would be unusual but not entirely unlikely – and could bring big value.

No Winner at Old Trafford – Bet on the Draw

England and Pakistan have played out plenty of draws in the past. More than a third of their Tests have ended in stalemates.

This, along with the wet weather expected and Pakistan’s ability to bat longer than the West Indies, all but points to a draw. Unibet have a draw offered at 4.33.

Pick England for the Highest Opening Partnership

This is the more conservative bet of the three. Dom Sibley and Rory Burns are becoming a formidable pairing at the top of England’s order.

In home conditions, they’ll likely outscore Pakistan’s openers. In the highest opening partnership market, bet365 have England and Pakistan priced at 1.57 and 2.37, respectively.

Refer to our best bet selections before the match starts to see how our free cricket tips shape up.