1st ODI - England v Australia

By Crafty Stan

Tuesday 22nd June 2010 2:30 BST, Rose Bowl

In a less than interesting one day series in a overly busy International schedule, the two Ashes competitors get a chance to strike a psychological blow ahead of the hotly anticipated Test series. I for one would not be massively interested in this series were it not from a purely punting point of view as I believe that there is money to be made in potential with this England team.

Australia limped past Ireland in their warm up match and looked headed for defeat for sure before an Irish middle-order collapse saved the Aussie blushes. They looked a rusty outfit in desperate need of match practise.

England by contrast come in bristling with confidence on the back of the T20 World Cup triumph and in their warm up match they dispatched Scotland with a minimum of fuss and looked pretty clinical in doing so. Not a huge amount is to be read into such things as these warm-ups but they are not to be completely ignored as you can see who is and isn't in nick at the time.

The absence of Mitchell Johnson is damaging for Australia's hopes in my opinion and I am generally struggling to see why they are favourites for this match and indeed series. The batting line-up looked a little brittle against Ireland and perhaps was dragging a long a lengthy tail (Hopes at 7) and let’s face it a potential bowling attack of James Hopes, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay, Nathan Hauritz and Doug Bollinger would probably have been giggled at eighteen months ago. Credit where it is due though as Harris, Hauritz and Bollinger have proved useful additions to the side in recent times.

With a confident and aggressive batting line up (Captain Strauss aside), England seem to have a top order every bit as dangerous looking on paper as that of the Aussies and the new kids on the block Eoin Morgan and Craig Kieswetter will relish another challenge in their early and bright International careers. If in-form Kevin Pietersen makes plenty of runs then I will go on and say it, England will win this series.

I make this opener at the Rose Bowl a dead pick-um affair. Even money either side so find the 1.78 Australia price a significant lay. Being away from home, looking pretty rusty and missing key personnel will not make things easy for the Aussies to get off to a flier and they should therefore be taken on.

C’mon England. It's not a patriotic punt, it's a sensible one!

RECOMMENDATION - 3 Point Liability Lay of Australia @ 1.78 (Betfair)

Crafty Stan