James Buttler of the Cricket Badger Podcast looks ahead to the second England v Sri Lanka Test match and finds the best bets at Lord's from Thursday morning.
Despite losing early wickets in both innings, Sri Lanka made England work for their first Test win. That still doesn't deter me from standing by my 3-0 England series results prediction.
Impressed by three newcomers
There have been three relative newbies to test cricket that have seriously impressed me so far this summer. Jamie Smith looks born for the highest level, and his maiden Test century saw him awarded the Player of the Match award at Old Trafford. Gus Atkinson now has 26 wickets across his first four Tests, which is remarkable.
But my first bet for second Test is on a Sri Lankan, who is ridiculously overpriced. Kamindu Mendis scored 12 and 113 in Manchester and averages 92.16 across his first four Test match appearances. The left-hander is new to me and looked well-organised and oozes talent. He just looks class. He may not be as experienced or possess the volume of Test runs as the likes of Karunaratne or Chandimal, but at 13/2 (seventh favourite in the Sri Lankan list) to be the Sri Lankan top scorer in the first innings at Lord's, it's a price play I just cannot ignore.
Joe Root in top form
Joe Root played well in both innings in Manchester, and with three hundreds at Lord's and an average across 21 previous matches there of 50.74, he's my pick at 100/30 to be England's top batter.
Chris Woakes loves the Lord's slope
Despite Gus Atkinson's phenomenal Test match start, Chris Woakes absolutely owns Lord's. In six matches at the Home of Cricket, Woakes has taken 28 wickets at a meagre average of 12.36, including three five-wicket hauls. Woakes, to be England's leading first innings bowler, can't be bypassed, it simply can't, at 16/5.
James' Best England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test Bets
The three bets ahead of the second test (treble is 136/1):
Kamindu Mendes at 13/2 to top score for Sri Lanka
Joe Root at 100/30 to be England's leading batter
Chris Woakes at 16/5 to be England's leading bowler.
(All of those markets are for the first innings only.)
Enjoy the cricket everybody, gamble responsibly, and I'll see you again ahead of the third Test match at The Oval.
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