Cricket: England vs New Zealand ODI Series & Twenty20 International

[kevshat]

The England vs NZ one day series begins with a twenty20 international from Manchester tomorrow and then a 5 match ODI series gets underway at Durham on Sunday. I'm going with 2 for the twenty20 match. 10pts NZ to win Twenty20 International 6/5 Totesport England beat New Zealand 2-0 in the twenty20 internationals in New Zealand during the winter but we have to remember that New Zealand took that opportunity to blood one or two youngsters and rested their captain. That's not going to happen this time. England have played 14 twenty20 matches at international level and have won only 5, 2 of which were in the winter. England will probably go with a similar side to the one which played in New Zealand. There is an enforced change with Tim Ambrose taking the gloves from Phil Mustard. That means Luke Wright is likely to open with Alastair Cook for England with Bell, KP and Collingwood following them. Shah, Bopara and Mascarenhas appear to be playing for two places with Sidebottom, Broad and Anderson likely to make up the side unless Swann gets a gig with his spin. New Zealand will almost certainly play 2 spinners after Tim Southee sprained an ankle in the week. They will open with the live wire Brendon McCullum who opened to devastating effect for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2 months ago. He'll open with Jamie How with Fulton, Taylor and Styris forming the middle order. Kyle Mills and Mark Gillespie are likely to take the new ball with Vettori and the dangerman Oram making up the side. New Zealand play limited overs cricket much better than they do test cricket and they've been underestimated here. They thrashed Worcestershire on Wednesday and that's a decent form guide going on what Worcestershire did to Gloucester on Thursday night. England aren't a good twenty20 side and minds could be wandering to the $20m match in November while NZ will go their own way and look to take advantage. 10pts NZ to hit most 6's 8/5 Totesport This is a stupid price. New Zealand have shown how they hit the ball far and hard in the test series and now they get licence to do it, it's only likely to be worse. Brendon McCullum could outscore England in 6's on his own but he'll be well backed up by the likes of Fulton, Taylor, Styris and of course Oram who showed us what he can do at Trent Bridge last Sunday. England in contrast don't have many big hitters, especially against what's likely to be tight medium pace and varied spin. Pietersen, Wright and Mascarenhas can go in the big hitters column but the rest are more conventional players. New Zealand generally don't go for many runs when they bowl because of their nagging line and length and medium pace and I can't envisage a scenario where NZ don't score more 6's than England.

[Pie-chucker]

Re: Cricket: England vs New Zealand ODI Series & Twenty20 International Most Sixes That NZ 8/5 is still up on the Totesport coupon. Best 11/10 elsewhere. Looks a good go to me too. Spin have (25pts per 6 hit) England Bigshots Wright, KP, Mascarenhas as 68-76 NZ Bigshots McCullum, Taylor, Oram as 90-100 So they see some disparity in the Engine room in favour of NZ.