England 19-10 to square series

BETTING on a cricket match seems to be a rather futile exercise following yesterday’s dreadful events in Pakistan, but life goes on and those insistent on punting on the fifth Test between the West Indies and England will be taking a keen interest on the weather forecast and the state of the wicket in Trinidad.

The last two Tests have been staged on feather beds and if Trinidad produces another batsmen’s paradise then the 5-4 about a draw will look terrific value.

Having stolen a march on England in Jamaica, the Windies have been favoured by the last two pitches and I suspect the groundsman in Port-of-Spain will be under orders to produce something similar in a bid to preserve the home team’s lead.

I still maintain England, who are 19-10 to win in Trinidad, are the better team, but with Andrew Flintoff injured, Ryan Sidebottom suffering from an Achilles problem and Steve Harmison’s state of mind in turmoil, it is hard to see how they are going to pick up the 20 wickets needed to win a Test.

The Windies, who scored over 700 runs in Barbados, could be value at 3-1, but this has all the hallmarks of another stalemate.


GREG Ogilvy has been cut to 25-1 to win next month’s Masters at Augusta following his weekend victory in the Accenture World Matchplay.

England’s Paul Casey, the man he beat in the final, is down to 40-1 for Augusta glory, while teenage sensation Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is the same price to triumph on his Masters debut.

Despite his rustiness after his injury-enforced lay-off and second-round defeat in the Accenture, Tiger Woods is 5-2 favourite to win at Augusta, followed by Phil Mickelson (10-1) and Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia (20-1).



EVEN though there were victories for Chelsea and Liverpool last night, Manchester United are 1-16 to retain their Premier League crown as they prepare for tonight’s game at Newcastle.