1st ODI Date: Friday, Sept 8 (Cardiff)
2nd ODI Date: Sunday, Sept 10 (Southampton)
3rd ODI Date: Monday, Sept 13 (London – The Oval)
4th ODI Date: Friday, Sept 15 (London – Lord’s)
BetXchange 1st ODI Odds:
Series Preview
England and New Zealand are playing a four-and-four split white ball series this September, and we are moving into the second leg of that tour with the one day internationals beginning tomorrow.
These ODIs follow the four T20Is and – fittingly – all is to play for after the two countries split those matches with two wins each.
England was dominant in the matches in Durham and Manchester. They won the 1st T20I by seven wickets, holding the Black Caps to 139/9 from 20 overs, then running them down in 14. The bowling was even more dominant at Old Trafford, with New Zealand struggling to a limp 103 all out while chasing 199 to win.
The series turned with the 3rd T20I in Birmingham. New Zealand batted first and put up an impressive 202/5 behind 83 from Man of the Match Finn Allen. They then proved they could also win while batting second, with the 4th T20I going their way by six wickets as they chased down England’s 175/8 in just over 17 overs.
This makes the ODIs very interesting, especially with the format’s World Cup just around the corner.
England
The big news in the England camp is the addition of Harry Brook to the squad for the ODIs this week. Brook was not included in England’s provisional 15-man pool for the ODI World Cup in India, but his response that disappointment has been nothing short of electric.
Brook was outstanding in the T20I series against the Black Caps, especially in the two-match victories. This follows his great work in the Hundred, and he now has another chance to prove to selectors that they need to change their tournament party.
Brook has just three ODI caps to his name, but watch for him to add to that number against New Zealand. This puts additional pressure on the likes of Jason Roy, Dawid Malan, and Liam Livingstone, with all three looking a little out of form at a crucial time in the season.
New Zealand
New Zealand has been boosted by the return from injury of a couple of key bowlers. Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson will both add their brand of pace to the Black Caps attack, though Kane Williamson is still rehabbing from an ACL injury he suffered back in April.
The latest rumors out of the New Zealand camp suggest that Williamson will be named in the World Cup squad. This means that there is pressure on the New Zealand batsmen to perform, with the 33-year-old white ball captain set to make a stunning return for the showpiece event.
Best Bets
If you like Brook to come in and dominant as England’s best batsman then he is 4/1 to do so. If he plays, that is a bet I might take. If not, then Jonny Bairstow at 33/10 feels like the right move.
I really liked how Allen took over the 3rd T20I for New Zealand with the bat and he is 4/1 to be their best on show here. Take he and Boult at 3/1 to be their best bowler for a couple of value bets.
