The 4th test is underway with Paddy Power releasing the latest England v India odds as the tourists now 2/1 to take the cricket series after the first days play, according to the Irish firm.
England lead their Test series against India 2-1 and they know a draw in the final game will guarantee their first victory an Indian soil since 1985.
The final Test takes place in Nagpur and will bring back good memories for captain and star man Alistair Cook. He started his career with a Test century against India in Nagpur and will be looking to repeat the feat one again.
India v England Odds : Paddy Power In Running Bet
Paddy Power will kindly offer free bets worth £250/€250 to spend on the fourth test, and have top batsman, top bowler, man of match and plenty more markets available to be in play! Pick up your exclusive Paddy Power free bet here!
After starting the series as 5/1 outsiders, and drifting to 16/1 following the first Test defeat in Ahmedabad England are now 8/15 with Ladbrokes to land an epic series win. Since that defeat England have outplayed India in every department in the following two games. Cook has been instrumental in providing his side the runs to dismantle the Indians.
The Essex opener has hit 548 runs in three matches and showed immense leadership skills to drag his side near an immense series victory.
He has been ably assisted by spin kings Monty Panesar and Graham Swann, whose bowling has caused the Indians so many problems in Mumbai and Kolkata. The pressure is now on India and their skipper MS Donhi to salvage something from the series and they are 6/4 with Ladbrokes to win the final Test. England can be backed at a best-priced 9/4 with Bet365 to win the match whilst the draw, which has been well backed, is available at 21/10 with Paddy Power.
That price on India looks very short considering the way they threw in the towel at Eden Gardens. England have been weak in the betting but have no drifted out to a price that could be backable.
The pitch for the fourth Test should play into the hands of the spinners once again, but unlike the first prediction about how India have the edge in the department, Swann and Panesar are now the men in form. They have overshadowed the achievements of Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin whilst other bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh have been dropped in favour for the younger generation.
England also seem to have the edge in the batting department. Along with Cook, both Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott have chipped in with valuable runs, and Kevin Pieterson is in the mood judging by his 186 in Mumbai.
He looks a good bet to end up as the fourth Test top run scorer at 7/2 with Bet365. He spent the summer falling out with everyone in the England squad over contract wrangles, text messages and other misdemeanours, but has been given a reprieve by Flower and Cook and judging by his past achievements the South African-born batsmen will want to end the series on a high.
Knowing the way Pieterson rolls he will probably go out on a high and keeping an eye on the 8/1 for him to be man-of-the-match for the fourth Test looks a canny play.
Batting conditions in Nagpur are historically very good and seven Test-match centuries have been scored in the last three matches.
But it’s Compton that has proved the most popular in the betting markets. He had been significantly punted on to score more than 26 runs at 5/6 with Paddy Power. His last four innings has seen him average over 36 runs, therefore the 5/6 looks very fair. As does the 7/1 with Paddy Power about Trott scoring a century during the match.
He has looked very comfortable in his last innings when making 87, and certainly has the form to make a huge score this time around.
Compton looks the best bet available but anyone wanting a patriotic punt on England wrapping up the series at 8/15 with Ladbrokes should be celebrating come late Sunday evening.