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The Oval in London hosts England vs. Sri Lanka in the 3rd and final Test match of the series. England are 2-0 up and looking to sweep the series. In our latest cricket betting picks we tell you if they are going to do it.
- What: 3rd Test
- Who: England vs. Sri Lanka
- Where: The Oval, London, England
- When: September 6th -10th, 2024
- Time: 6.00 a.m ET
England is looking for a summer sweep
England is looking to sweep not only Sri Lanka but also all six of its summer Test matches.
The Three Lions have already defeated the West Indies 3-0. And with the series against Sri Lanka at 2-0, they know another win in their final match will see them end the summer with a 6-0 record.
Winning the summer 6-0 is significant. Every Test match win is rewarded with 12 World Test Championship points, ensuring no match is ever a dead rubber.
Only the top two nations qualify for the WTC final, and England already trails the top two, India and Australia, by significant margins. They can’t afford not to win this match.
England vs. Sri Lanka betting
England is the odds-on favorite to win the 3rd Test match against Sri Lanka.
On the money line, England is -350. A win for Sri Lanka is +650, and the draw is +600.
England’s top-performing batter from the previous match, Joe Root, is the +275 favorite to be the highest 1st innings run scorer in the 3rd Test.
Root is followed by Harry Brook at +350. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope are at +500, and the star performer from the opening Test match, Jamie Smith is next at +700.
The market is dominated by English players.
The shortest price on a Sri Lankan is +1600, with Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, and Kusal Mendis, all available to top score at those odds.
It’s a similar picture in the betting to be the top 1st innings bowler.
England players dominate. The favorites are Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes at +500. Olly Stone is +600 third favorite.
Prabath Jayasuriya is the highest-placed Sri Lankan in the betting at +700. Shoaib Bashir of England is at +800. Sri Lankan’s Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando are both at +850.
England are giving a Test match debut to 6ft 7in left-arm seamer Josh Hull. Hull is +900 to be the top 1st innings bowler.
More England vs. Sri Lanka betting options are available on our odds table. For more details on the cricket sites we have used, please check out our best sportsbook sign-up bonuses page.
| 3rd Test Betting |  |  |  |
| England | -350 | -350 | -350 |
| Draw | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Sri Lanka | +650 | +650 | +650 |
England vs. Sri Lanka Picks and Predictions
Onto our England vs. Sri Lanka betting picks and predictions, and England should win the match.
But, England is very short at -350. And there is a bit of rain forecast around the London area over the next few days. The draw is +600, and there could be more value in backing that.
England should win the match if there is enough play. Sri Lanka has had chances to put England under pressure in this series. But they have never at any point pressed home any advantage they have had.
Whether or not we will get enough play for England to win is the question. The best cricket betting sites are saying we will get enough play. But we say it might be worth opposing the bookmakers and having a small wager on the draw at +600.
Josh Hull to be the top 1st innings bowler
Another value-for-money bet we are looking at is debutant Josh Hull to be the top 1st innings bowler.
Hull is a long-term project. England view him as a player who will be a threat to Australia on pacy pitches they will play on in the Ashes next year.
His selection is based on the Oval being the most similar English pitch to that of Australia. In other words, England feels the Oval will suit him best.
Furthermore, England backs their young players. They won’t hide Josh Hull away and wait for the ideal time to bring him on to bowl. He will be treated just as equally as anybody else on the team.
If evidence is needed, five debutants have claimed five-wicket hauls in their debut Test match under the current England leadership.
At +900, Josh Hull to be the top bowler in the 1st innings of the 3rd Test is our next betting pick.
Chris Woakes: Over 4.5 match wickets
In the 1st Test of the current series, Chris Woakes took 6 wickets in the match. In the 2nd Test, he only managed 4 wickets.
Okay, this bet would have been a loser in the 2nd Test. But the overall picture is that Woakes is in good form. He is averaging 5 wickets a match in this series.
At this ground against Australia in 2023, Woakes took 7 match wickets against far superior opposition.
We see the new leader of England’s seam attack finishing the summer on a high. Chris Woakes to take over 4.5 wickets in the match is our final pick of the 3rd Test match.
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