The news that Kevin Pietersen is now out of the series against New Zealand starting in May hasn’t really had any impact with the online bookmakers‘ odds with regard to cricket betting for the Ashes series.
In reality, it shouldn’t impact Ashes betting, as what has the New Zealand series got to do with the Ashes? In short, the answer is nothing, but we have been here before with ECB injury updates.
When news of Pietersen’s knee injury first emerged, he was only supposed to be out of the IPL. Now he is out of the New Zealand series as well.
So what next? The Ashes as well!!
Obviously the injury is worse than first thought. Are the ECB not telling us the full story? Are the medical staff getting their diagnosis wrong? Is he really a doubt for the Ashes? Because if he is, the odds will certainly change.
The problem I see here is that we have been here before. We had similar problems a few years back with Michael Vaughan, Simon Jones, Andrew Flintoff and Chris Tremlett.
More recently we have had the issues with Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, and I’m convinced Stuart Broad isn’t right.
ECB injury updates remind me of a train delay when you are standing on a platform needing to get somewhere. It starts off as 5 minute delay, then a 10 minute delay, and so on…. I’m sure you get the picture.
Is this a deliberate drip feed of information, designed not to give the Aussies the complete picture of the England players health? Or is this (allegedly) misdiagnosis again?
I fully understand the ECB not wanting to give the Aussies a heads up about the medical conditions of some of our better players. My fear is that I’m not convinced this is what the ECB are actually doing.
Anyway, onto the cricket betting and with regard to the odds on the Ashes, they haven’t really changed. England are still around the 2/5 to 4/9 mark for a series victory. A drawn series is still around 5/1 to 11/2. The Aussies have slightly shortened, a few weeks back they were generally 7/2 to 4/1, with a couple of bookies going 3/1. They are still in that price range, but I’ve noticed quite a few bookmakers are now offering 10/3 – as well as 3/1, 7/2 and 4/1.
When betting on cricket I feel it is worthwhile keeping an eye on markets long term. As we get closer to the Ashes, if news of the injuries to Pietersen and Swann isn’t getting better, England will almost certainly drift on Betfair and the other betting exchanges. If you know where England’s price has been sitting, it’s easier to make a judgement call as to where you think it may go to.