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Sri Lanka Vs England 1st Test Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview

Sri Lanka Vs England 1st Test Betting Tips

The 1st Test of the Sri Lanka Vs England series starts on Thursday (14/1/21) with the hosts looking to bounce back from a series defeat in South Africa, here our match preview brings you all the news you need, including the latest odds, spread betting and match prediction.

Sri Lanka Vs England Betting Odds

Sri Lanka Vs England 1st Test – Match Preview

  • Sri Lanka Vs England – 1st Test Match, 14th January 2021 to 18th January 2021.
  • The match comes from the Galle International Stadium, Galle.
  • This is the first Test match of a two match series. Both matches are to be played at the same venue.
  • Sri Lanka lost 2-0 in a two match Test series in South Africa over the Christmas/New year period.
  • They lost the 1st Test by an innings and 45 runs, and the 2nd Test by 10 wickets. By all accounts, the Sri Lankans got a good thrashing.
  • For England, this is their first Test series since the rain effected 1-0 series win at home to Pakistan in August 2020.

Cricket Spread Betting

For more information about spread betting, check out our cricket spread betting explained page.

Sri Lanka Vs England 1st Test Prediction 14/1/21

The bookies just about make England the favourites for this one. It does look a close call on paper, but I slightly disagree with England as favourites.

The tourists have no Ben Stokes, and their batting line up looks very makeshift.

Stars of the previous series win in Sri Lanka, Ben Foakes is in the squad, but unlikely to play.

Of the successful spin trio who toured his last time around, only Jack Leach is going to play. Fellow spinner Adil Rashid wasn’t selected. And although Moeen Ali is on the tour, he is out of the 1st Test after testing positive for Covid-19.

For Sri Lanka, although they got thrashed in South Africa, it’s a series that is likely to have little bearing on this one.

The pitches in South Africa were completely different to the ones they will be playing on in this series.

And in South Africa, the Sri Lankans had no where near their strongest XI on the pitch for either game, due to injuries.

They do now have Oshada Fernando, and bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara all available for selection again. But with none of them really match fit, they are more providing an extra headache, than a remedy.

Despite Sri Lanka’s problems, they still have home advantage. England have no Ben Stokes, and they also have a history of starting tours slowly.

They also have a bad habit of going into the opening match of tours of Asia with the wrong balance to their bowling attack – ie, playing too many seamers in spinning conditions.

If you’re looking for a trade on the betting exchanges, then a lay of the draw is a good call.

There is rain in the air so the odds might shorten in-play, but history says there aren’t many draws in Galle.

For my prediction, I’m going to have to just side with the home team, but I believe either team could win this one.

Prediction – Sri Lanka to win @ 8/5 with Betfair

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