England value at 5-2 for Ashes glory

IT IS pretty obvious that England’s cricketers are twice as effective on home soil, so none of us should have been surprised by their ruthless demolition of West Indies in the two-Test series which ended on Monday.

Admittedly, the Windies looked like a side who did not want to be here, but in England they must remain for the next few weeks, firstly to take on our lads in a three-match ODI series and then for the Twenty20 World Cup.

The first of the one-day internationals takes place at Headingley tomorrow and, with momentum behind them, England should win comfortably.

In fact, I expect a hungry England side to dominate a dispirited Windies outfit, so a 3-0 scoreline looks a distinct possibility.

The in-form Ravi Bopara (9-2) and Jimmy Anderson (9-4) may be the men to top the charts with bat and ball.

The Twenty20 slogfest gets under way on June 5 and England can be backed at 11-1 to lift the trophy.

Packed with specialists at this game, England have a chance, but India look a mighty powerful outfit and it is no surprise that they are 3-1 favourites to prevail.

South Africa are 5-1, Australia 6-1, Pakistan 17-2, Sri Lanka 9-1 and New Zealand 10-1. The rest have no chance.

Looking even further ahead, the Ashes series against Australia starts in Cardiff on July 8 and, surprisingly, England can still be backed at 5-2 to win the series.

I think that is a huge price. Listening to top pundits on Sky over the weekend, I formed the impression that most believed England to be slight favourites given their home advantage.

I just about share that point of view, so the bookies have surely got it wrong in making an Australian side in transition only 8-11 to win the five-Test series.


RECOMMENDATIONS: England to beat West Indies 3-0 in ODI series, 3-1 (general); Ravi Bopara to be top batsman, 9-2 (general); Jimmy Anderson to be top bowler, 9-4 (William Hill); England to beat Australia in Ashes series, 5-2 (Paddy Power).