England v India - Day 1 (Fourth Test)

The pitch at the Oval is one of the few that can’t actually be put into a category, as it provides interest for all, with the main feature being that runs are not hard to come but in any way or form and the track, which is usually dry, allowing for pace and bounce. This still doesn’t mean that spinners can’t have their day though, as the pitch usually breaks down over the course of the game.  

With the track being flat, the batsmen are the first place we look to and I can’t pass up Andrew Strauss to give runs and a beating to Virewender Sehwag. Strauss’s knock of 87 (which should be been allowed to continue on the basis that Mishra bowled a no ball) was as good as any in the series but what makes the bet (along with his record here of 487 runs, 37.46 average) along with his record here - is the King’s pair of Virewender Sehwag at Trent Bridge, combined with the fact that he’s still short of match practice in an Indian side struggling for form. Admittedly conditions should suit but he’s no safe bet at the moment.  

Given the struggling form of Shewag, Gutham Gambir can too outscore him in what could be a low scoring contest. Gambir has been threatening a decent knock all series and is usually the best Indian opener so evens seems pretty fair.

While Ravi Bopara has been given another chance, recent efforts suggest that he’ll have to play well to get the better of MS Dohni if he can bring the same form that saw him post two knocks of 70+ in the first and second Innings at Trent Bridge. If circumstances see him with nothing or everything to lose then expect him to go for it, while Bopara has a lot of pressure on his shoulders as this is a massive game for him – Should he fail to make a knock his place will almost certainly be gone.

While the batting surface means that runs are likely, I’ll once again take on the line – up for India and go for under 350 innings runs. The whole team are yet to make it past 300 so the margin working in our favour is very big, even if there could be an absence of swing in their innings.

And last but not least, with doubts over the fitness of James Anderson (who should play but may be used sparingly in mind of his abdominal injuries) Stuart Broad is worth a poke at 11/4 to be the to wicket taker for the first innings. With 21 wickets this series a good spell is guaranteed and he can go close here if the track allows for bounce – The ball usually swings at all English venues.

Praveen Kumar let us down a little but through no lack of effort when he could only take two wickets against an England side in the form of their life and his 13 maiden form 30 overs is just as good as any of the England team have managed and he’s worth another chance at 5/2 to spearhead the Indian first innings attack given how the pitch should suit his slower styles of bowling.

Advice

2 pts Andrew Strauss – 2.5 v Virewender Sehwag (5/6 Ladbrokes)

2 pts India to make less than 350 1^st innings runs (5/6 Ladbrokes)

1 pt Ghambir to outscore Shewag (evs Blue Sq)

1 pt MS Dohni -0.5 v Ravi Bopara (5/6 Ladbrokes)

1 pt Praveen Kumar to be top Indian wicket taker (11/4 Blue Sq)

1 pt Stuart Broad to be top England wicket tacker (5/2 Blue Sq)