Cricket
India v England second Test odds : Can tourists make it back-to-back wins after memorable opener?
James Anderson’s heroics helped England clinch a memorable first Test victory over India earlier this week. But that is already old news in terms of the series.
The 38-year-old – helped by fellow bowler Jack Leach – helped the visitors to a 227-run win. Anderson’s 3-17 and Leach’s 4-76 inspired England to victory.
Celebrations from the remarkable win may continue long into the future, but for now, England’s focus turns to the second test. MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai once again plays host to the game, which gets underway on Saturday.
Tradition is very much a major concept here, in what is the country’s second-oldest cricket stadium after Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
India will be eager to get back to winning ways, having suffered just a second home defeat in eight years. The travelling side were underdogs going into the four-match series, but they now take a 1-0 lead.
While Anderson impressed with the ball, Joe Root was the hero with the bat. He hit a sensational double century in England’s first innings. They finished that innings with 578, with India replying with 337.
Root then scored 40 in England’s second innings of 178, leaving India chasing a world record 420.
But Anderson’s stunning figures ensured that the tourists clinched a famous win. India had lost just one of their 35 Tests on home soil before the latest results, a run that stretched back to their last home series defeat. That came against England in 2012, led by Alastair Cook.
Kohli did his best to put up a fight this time around, but he and his side eventually fell short. They now turn to Test number two to try and level the series.
An India win can be backed 8/11.
Another England victory has been given odds of 3/1, while a draw in the second Test is currently available at 9/2.
After his heroics last time out, Root is unsurprisingly the favourite to be England’s leading batsman once again. He can be backed at 9/5 to top score for the visitors, with Dominic Sibley available at 9/2.
Others looking to impress with the bat include Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope. The former is currently 5/1 to be England’s leading man, with the latter available at 6/1.
