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England and West Indies meet at Lord’s on Wednesday in the first match of a best-of-three Test series. The Test match marks the dawn of a new era of English red-ball cricket. In our latest cricket betting picks we tell you if the latest reboot will start with a win.
- What: 1st Test
- Who: England vs. West Indies
- Where: Lord’s, St John’s Wood, London, England
- When: July 10th -14th, 2024
- Time: 5.00 a.m ET
England go to Australia to try and win the Ashes at the end of 2025. The build-up to England’s latest attempt at winning back the Urn starts at Lord’s on Wednesday.
Already cut from the England side is batter Jonny Bairstow and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, both dropped as they aren’t expected to play a role in Australia in 2025/26.
Definately not going to Australia is fast bowler, Jimmy Anderson. The record-breaking seamer has already been told that this will be his last ever appearance for England.
Anderson has at least been granted a farewell by England at Lord’s. Which given the ruthless nature shown by England with this team selection for this match, shows just how highly thought of he is.
Jimmy Anderson will play in his 188th and final Test match this week at Lord's.
Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith will play in their first.#ENGvWI #BBCCricket pic.twitter.com/xgpZeLEH7F
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 8, 2024
Making their debuts for England will be quick bowler Gus Atkinson and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. While making his debut for the West Indies, will be Mikyle Louis, who will be the first player from the island of St Kitts to play Test cricket.
Joining Louis in the West Indies team is all-rounder Jason Holder. The former captain returns after missing the tour of Australia after turning down a central contract.
Holder will make up part of an impressive pace attack that could cause England problems if there are helpful overhead conditions.
England vs. West Indies Match Betting
England are heavy-betting favorites to win the opening Test match.
On the money line, England is -550, the draw is +750, and a West Indies win is +950.
In the props markets, either team is +275 to win by an innings, and -400 not too. In the double chance market, England/Draw is -1800, England/West Indies is -1600, and West Indies/Draw is +400.
Joe Root is +290 to be the top England batter in the 1st innings. Harry Brook is second favorite at +355, with Ben Duckett at +375. Zak Crawley is +420.
For the West Indies, Kraigg Brathwaite is the favorite to be the top scorer at +310. Kirk McKenzie is +440, Zachary McCaskie is +450 and Alick Athanaze is +460. Debutant Mikyle Louis is available at +475.
More England vs. West Indies 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.
| Eng vs. West Indies |  |  |  |
| England | -550 | -550 | -550 |
| Draw | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| West Indies | +950 | +950 | +950 |
To win the Series betting
The betting to win the Test series market is more one-sided than the betting to win the Test match.
It is a best-of-three series, and England is -2000 to win the series. The best cricket betting sites make the draw +1000 and a win for the West Indies is +1800.
England vs. West Indies Picks and Predictions
There seems little value in backing an England win at -550 on the money line. Yes, this is a very inexperienced West Indies batting lineup. But the weather in London this week doesn’t look great, and it could be the case that time is taken out of the game and the draw comes into play.
A small wager on the draw is worth the risk. But if there is enough play, England will win the match comfortably.
Onto our picks in the props markets. And first up we like the look of a bet involving Chris Woakes.
Chris Woakes: Over 4.5 wickets
When Chris Woakes came back into the England team in the Ashes in 2023, he turned the series on its head and back in favor of England.
Woakes loves bowling in English conditions. He can count himself unlucky to have been left out of the tour of India, and he will be keen to pick up where he left off last summer when he finished the Ashes series with 19 wickets in just three matches.
Chris Woakes to take over 4.5 wickets in the match is -135 with Bovada. That is our first betting pick on the props markets.
Jamie Smith: Most Sixes for England
Next up we are backing Jamie Smith to hit the most sixes for England in the Test match.
Smith is making his debut as a wicketkeeper batter. He has been brought in purely to make the role more attacking.
There is no doubt that Smith will be sent out with the full backing of captain Ben Stokes to attack the West Indies bowling attack and try to accelerate the game as quickly as possible.
The favorites to hit the most sixes in the match are Ben Stokes and Harry Brook. Both are +210. Jamie Smith is +600. That makes Smith a far better value-betting pick.
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