Test previews 
/ Michael Vaughan / 27 May 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Andrew Strauss comes into this match in good nick
"I think there’s every chance that they’ll overtake Sri Lanka’s score given pretty much all their batsmen are in form and I also like the [2.0] on England scoring 475 runs or more in the first innings runs market."
An England win isn't out of the equation by any means but Andrew Strauss will have to lead by example and get a big hundred, says Michael Vaughan.
First and foremost I was glad to get a full day's action after the disappointment of losing so many overs to rain yesterday.
England bowled well at times today, certainly better than they did yesterday, but credit should also go to the Sri Lanka batsmen and in particular HAPW Jayawardene, who scored a magnificent century. Yes, the wicket played pretty well throughout much of the day but this is a player with less than 40 Tests to his name scoring a tonne in conditions he's not used to, against one of the very best bowling line-ups in the world. Give credit where it's due.
If you'd followed my advice of backing the draw at [2.6] on Wednesday afternoon and laying it at odds-on you'll already have a nice green book in front of you. But if you're planning on having your first bet of the match the best way to approach it is to back England at [4.8] and lay them off when they hit [3.0]. I think there's every chance that they'll overtake Sri Lanka's score given pretty much all their batsmen are in form and I also like the [2.0] on England scoring 475 runs or more in the first innings runs market.
We know that players like Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan can score very quickly when set. If they can lead by 75-100 runs and take an early wicket at the start of the Tourists' second innings the market may well think England have enough time to go on and win the match. The problem Andrew Strauss has is they're almost certainly going to have to try and bowl Tillekaratne Dilshan and his mates out relatively cheaply without James Anderson. He has a back and side strain and is unlikely to be able to bowl during this Test, and also the remainder of the Series. That's my big reservation as regards an England win and why I'm sticking with the back-to-lay strategy.
I've liked what I've seen of Andrew Strauss so far in this innings and I've already mentioned that in my pre-match preview that he's been in good form so far this season. At around [3.5], he looks a good wager to score a first-innings hundred as England pile on the runs on a good track.
Recommended Bets:
Back-to-lay England at [4.8]
Back England to score 475 runs or more in the first innings at [2.0]
Back Andrew Strauss to score a first innings century at [3.5]
Michael Vaughan tells us why England were right to go with Eoin Morgan over Ravi Bopara ahead of the First Test....
Michael Vaughan tells us why Andrew Strauss will be so keen to make an impact in this First Test and how Mahela Jayawardene is the obvious choice to top score for Sri Lanka in the first innings....
Former England captain Michael Vaughan gives us his take on the challenges Sri Lanka face in this Series, why Kevin Pietersen can come good this summer and how to approach the betting for the First Test....
