The Googly

Betting Coach - Australia vs India The Fourth Test: the Reckoning

So one week on, how did The Trumpet's tips turn out?

India at 8/1 gave a good run for your money, but neither bowling attack had the venom to take wickets quickly enough on an excellent pitch - a sixth day would have been interesting. Virender Sehwag was tipped as top Indian bat at 6/1, alas for the first innings and not the second dig. RP Singh's injury saw him blow his chances of being top  Indian bowler (1st innings). Close, but no cigar with the fixed odds bookies.

Over on the spreads, The Trumpet advised a sell on Australia at 85-105 for 1st innings supremacy, which settled at 37 for a handy win of £48 to a £1 per run wager. Most of that would have been lost on the advised sell on Punter's runs which was quoted at 103-110 - despite injury, he still managed 140 which loses £37 to a £1 per run wager. Finally, VVS was recommended as a buy on his total match runs (quoted at 73-80) - it wasn't quite the fairytale ending to VVS's glorious Australian career, and his 63 runs lost his supporters £17.

To come out £6 down on the spreads and lose out on the fixed odds markets narrowly isn't such a bad result when looking for value. The Betting Coach will be back for the New Zealand vs England series.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty] 

Betting Coach - Australia vs India The Fourth Test

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Australia and India will lock horns once again in this pulsating Test Series. With no Fifth Test scheduled - we wouldn't want to interfere with endless ODIs just for the sake of Test Cricket's greatest rivalry would we - there's no series at stake, but nobody believes that these two teams will be anything other than fiercely committed.

Join me over the jump for some value at the bookies. 

Straight off the back of Perth's unexpected win, India are available at 8/1 with Boylesports, which, especially if they win the toss, looks very generous. Just about the only other value with the fixed odds merchants can be found at Totesport who offer Virender Sehwag as top Indian bat (1st innings) at 6/1 and Stan James who offer RP Singh at a very generous 4/1 to be top Indian bowler (1st innings).

Sportingindex are quoting Australia at 85-105 on 1st innings supremacy, which the Trumpet sees as a sell expecting neither side to be leading by many after the first digs. Elsewhere, in the total match runs market, Punter is quoted at 103-110 which is another sell for me. Finally, I see VVS signing off a wonderful career in Australia with a big knock, so recommend a buy on his total match runs quoted at 73-80.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

England vs Sri Lanka - The Best of the Bets Part III

As our picture (taken three days ago) shows, anything, or nothing, could happen at Galle over the next five days. Whilst a consensus has grown that it is a good thing for Test cricket to return to Galle just three years after the death and destruction wrought by the tsunami. In that spirit, players, the press and fans appear to agree that the under-prepared outer and facilities should be dealt with. Nevertheless, The Trumpet contends that a Test match requires a pitch to be of a functionally minimum standard. This is the final Test of a hard fought series, the outcome of which is still in doubt. If the pitch isn't ready, the series should be declared complete and the players should play some T20 cricket to entertain the fans and show their solidarity with people who lost a lot more than a Test Match. But a Test should not be played for the sake of it.

In the light of all that, the Trumpet is loathe to make any suggestions for gambles, but he updates on past recommendations over the jump.   

The Trumpet tipped a drawn series which was available at 4/1 (for 1-1) which, given that everyone wants to play and Galle's pitch looks like it will produce a result, is still looking quite good value. I tipped Ryan Sidebottom as England's top bowler at 9/2 - he has impressed, but all that hard work has produced just 4 wickets to date. Finally on the fixed odds, I tipped Michael Vandort at 15/2 for the top Lankan batsman: with 195 runs so far, he's given a decent run for your money, but he's still well off the pace set by the Lankan big guns, Sangakkara and Jayawardene.

On the spreads, Sportingindex offered England's series ton ups at 80 - 95, which the Trumpet saw as a useful buy. After England's extraordinary collective failure to turn any one of ten fifties into a ton, this market represents a loss most unlikely to be recovered at Galle. I blame the umpires (well, a bit).  The England tail's perceived weakness led me to suggest a big sell on that market available at 190 - 210. Helped by Jimmy Anderson's nightwatchman stint pushing the unexpectedly solid Matt Prior down to 8 in the First Test, England's 8 to 11 have garnered 150 runs so far, but might not get many more. A small win beckons! Finally, The Trumpet recommended a buy on Alastair Cook's total runs market quoted at 195 - 210. After a disastrous start, Cook has 147 runs to date - if he can get his head down and avoid another umpiring howler, the bet might just pay out.

Perhaps we should just hope for some decent Test match cricket and wish the long-suffering people of Galle a happy five days as they continue to re-build their lives.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

England vs Sri Lanka - The Best of the Bets Part II

Having tipped England to win the ODI series (at a handy 5/2), The Trumpet ventures forth searching for value in the upcoming Test series. Join me over the jump for the fixed odds and spread market tips.

I like the look of a drawn series which is available at 4/1 with Paddy Power (for 1-1) that you might want to run alongside a little saver on an England series win at 3/1 with Stan James. Once we can be sure of his selection, I fancy Ryan Sidebottom as England's top bowler (9/2 with Paddy Power). Finally Michael Vandort looked very good Down Under recently and might be worth a small punt with Paddy Power at 15/2 for the top Lankan batsman, should the big guns fail.

On the spreads, Sportingindex are offering England's series ton ups at 80 - 95, which the Trumpet sees as a useful buy. (For new readers of this column, this means that I expect England's century-makers to score a combined total of at least 95 runs above the 100 mark: so one knock of 196 from KP puts me in the money or a 146 from Colly with a 150 from Michael Vaughan). The Trumpet's much er... trumpeted fears for the England tail leads me to suggest a big sell on that market available at 190 - 210 (batsmen 8 to 11 total runs for the series). Finally, The Trumpet is recommending a buy on Alastair Cook's total runs market quoted at 195 - 210 - he can hit tons on the sub-continent and the Lankans' new ball attack is not as strong as it might be.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

England vs Sri Lanka - The Best of the Bets

What to make of England's ODI form? Rubbish - that's what to make of England's ODI form. Or is it? This year has seen two global tournaments, the World Cup won by Australia and the World T20 won by India. And 2007 has seen England win two ODI series: one against Australia, the other against India. That cricket is a funny old game is no less true for its cliche status.

The Lankans are never easy to beat on their own patch (and, after a 5-0 ODI shellacking handed out to England last time they toured, they're not bad away from home either) but lynchpin Murali is out for at least three of the five games. I'm pretty sure he won't risk his 709th Test wicket by turning out half-fit in ODI cricket, so The Trumpet has a sneaky feeling for England in this series. Over the jump, I identify a bit of value for the bold (or the stupid). 

With the fixed odds bookies, I like Totesport's 5/2 about an England series win and Blue Square's 10/3 about Ian Bell as England's top bat.

As ever, there's more fun in the spread markets with my top four investments quoted by Sporting Index.

Top Tip is a buy in the Total Series Innings 300-Ups market at 25 - 30. With T20 the flavour of the month and the Aussies treating 300 as a par score in ODI cricket, I'm expecting more than 300 as a target in at least two matches, which should see over 30 runs scored in excess of the run-a-ball mark and a decent profit in this market.

Neither side run well, so I'm keen to buy the Total Series Run-Outs market at 7 - 8.5. I'm also expecting to see the run to the keeper taken more often in ODI cricket's last over.

I like the look of a buy in KP's Series 50s-Ups market at 45 - 50. He's not in the best of nick, but he's at least a couple of good knocks in him and that'll see this market in profit.

Finally, the Colonel is an unknown quantity but, with Prior injured, his reward for a good series could be the gloves in all forms of cricket. He has improved enormously this season and has Durham pal Ottis Gibson along for the trip, so he's worth a punt. The England Series Wicketkeeper Performance market allocates one point to a run, ten to a catch and 25 to a stumping. It's quoted at 200 - 215 and, with the Colonel opening in the warm-up match, that's a buy for me.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Twenty20 World Cup - The Best of the Bets: The Outcomes

Now that the dust has settled on a fabulous tournament, how fared The Trumpet's tips from that distant time when we weren't sure whether T20 had a future at international level? I'll see you over the jump with the damage.

"With the fixed odds bookmakers, VC Bet offers 12/1 about Pakistan, which I like as an each-way bet at 1/3 odds". Nice money!

"AB de Villiers has played some extraordinary innings in recent years, and I suggest Stan James is offering a generous price of 28/1 about him being the Top Tournament Scorer. I'd go each way with Dwayne Bravo as Top Tournament Bowler at 20/1 with the same company - he'll bowl at the death where there will be plenty of cheap wickets for the disciplined bowler." Not so good!

"I'm recommending a buy on Total First 6 Overs Runs at 2725 - 2800" Ouch! Settled at 2426 for a loss of 374 points! The stop-loss would have been in play.

"I also like a buy of Total Batsman Ton-Ups at 29 - 33" Settled at 18, but I would have closed the position after Chris Gayle's knock in Match One at a healthy profit.

"Total Run Outs are quoted at 35 - 39 and that's another buy for me with plenty of singles being taken to the keeper to get the right man on strike at the death." Settled at 42 for a small profit.

I'd suggest that's not a bad return when looking for value. I'll be back over the weekend with the value in the Sri Lanka - England series.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Twenty20 World Cup - The Best of the Bets

Not without trepidation, The Trumpet goes rooting through the internets looking for value for the discerning investor. Unperturbed by some outrageous umpiring decisions in the England vs India ODI series (amazing how immoderate one's language becomes once there's a personal interest), leap over the jump for The Trumpet's Tips.

With the fixed odds bookmakers, VC Bet offers 12/1 about Pakistan, which I like as an each-way bet at 1/3 odds. Pakistan have got their biggest row over before the tournament starts and have more matchwinners than any nation outside Australia - crash and burn, or soar on a sea of adrenaline? AB de Villiers has played some extraordinary innings in recent years, and I suggest Stan James is offering a generous price of 28/1 about him being the Top Tournament Scorer. I'd go each way with Dwayne Bravo as Top Tournament Bowler at 20/1 with the same company - he'll bowl at the death where there will be plenty of cheap wickets for the disciplined bowler.

Sporting Index is The Googly's favoured spread market makers, and they offer a wide range of distinctly risky bets! Sides will be looking to open with their big hitters, so I'm recommending a buy on Total First 6 Overs Runs at 2725 - 2800: crunched out, that means I fancy more than 52 runs per innings in the powerplays. I also like a buy of Total Batsman Ton-Ups at 29 - 33: that means I'm expecting more than 33 runs from all the century-makers over and above their hundred. (Frankly, I'd buy that market if it applied to just Hayden, Smith and Gayle). Total Run Outs are quoted at 35 - 39 and that's another buy for me with plenty of singles being taken to the keeper to get the right man on strike at the death.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series

Many moons ago, when we all thought a series of seven ODIs would be balls-achingly dull, The Trumpet ventured forth to find some value with the fixed odds bookmakers and the spread betting market makers.

Here's how the sorry tale of how the tips turned out.

With the fixed odds bookmakers, 4/6 about an India series win floundered on this resurgent new England team. Colly to be top English wicket taker at 10/1 looked good at times, as he bowled more overs (46) than many would have expected, but was rewarded with just three wickets compared to Jimmy's impressive 14. The Trumpet went with MS Dhoni at 10/1 to be top Indian run scorer, and the ex-Show Pony did well with 175, but was well behind the old stagers, with Tendulkar's 374 winning out (despite the umpiring). One of the many greats unlikely to play in England again, Sourav Ganguly, was the Trumpet's pick for top Indian wicket-taker at 20/1 - like Colly, he bowled plenty of overs (25), but had just 2 wickets, but such was the lack of Indian penetration, RP Singh topped that category with a mere 7 wickets.

The spread markets are usually more hit and miss and that was the story for the Trumpet's tips. (Bear in mind that all of the Trumpet's positions could be closed at any time to cut losses and the use of the "stop-loss" facility is also recommended).

The Trumpet's sell on First 15 Overs Runs (965 - 995) was settled at 1031 for a loss of £66 (at £1 per run). The Trumpet's buy in the Batsman Ton-Ups market (54-60) was settled at 35 for a loss of £25 at £1 per run, having shown a healthy profit if closed after the first ODI. The umpires didn't help here! Series Run-Outs (9.6 - 10.4) was advised as a buy and settled at 12 for a profit of £16 at £1 per point. The Trumpet's favourite market was Total Series Wides (118 - 124) advised as a buy and settled at 103 for a loss of £21 at £1 per wide.

In the player markets, The Trumpet's sell of Tendulkar's runs (235 - 250) was settled at 374 for a loss of £139 at £1 per run, I hope stopped at £100. The Little Master was unlucky not to get more and showed that looking tired is not the same as being spent. Some of that loss would have been recovered with the buy of Colly's Series 50-Ups (28-33) settled at 55 for a profit of £22 at £1 per run.

I'll be back tomorrow with the value in the Twenty20 markets, if you dare read on after that performance!

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series Update Number Three

After England's extraordinary win in the Fourth ODI, powered home by the two youngest players in the side, it's time to look again to get the abacus out and assess The Trumpet's tips' performance to date.

The less said about the fixed odds tips, the better, so we move swiftly on to the Spread bets with all markets quoted offered by Sporting Index.

At the start of the series, The Trumpet advised a sell on First 15 Overs Runs originally quoted at 965 - 995. That market has barely moved to 970 - 985 and I still like the look of that sell.

Next up, The Trumpet advised a buy on the Batsman Ton-Ups market at 54-60. That market rose after the first ODI, but is now back to 55 - 60 and I still like that buy.

The Trumpet liked a buy on Run-Outs at 9.6 - 10.4. Despite some comedy running from Ganguly in particular, that market is now quoted at 9 - 9.4. I suggest that there's more panic to come and even at 10.4, the buy is looking good.

The Trumpet's top tip was a buy of Total Series Wides at 118 - 124. If you refused to cut your losses by closing your position after the First ODI, the spread is now 113 - 116 with swingers' paradise Headingley and radar-wrecking sloping Lord's to come. You may yet get out of that hole.

In the player markets, The Trumpet's sell of Tendulkar's Total Series Runs at 235 - 250 still looks poor with 179 scored to date and the spread quoted at 295 - 305. The "Stop-Loss" option may well be a saver here.

Colly's Series 50-Up spread at 28 - 33 was advised as a buy and has suffered from his tendency to get out in the 40s. He is now quoted at 15 - 20, but he's in form and that buy might yet deliver.

Alastair Cook's Total Series runs at 295 - 310 was advised as a buy. He got a very good one yesterday, so he's still in form, as the spread reflects in its gentle floating down to 278 - 288. There's more runs in the boy and I still like that buy.

The Trumpet will return at the end of the series with the full extent of the damage.

[The Tooting Trumpet]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series Update Number Two

Time to get the abacus out again and assess the success (or, alas) otherwise of The Trumpet's tips prior to the Third ODI starting later this morning and search for a bit of value.

Amongst the fixed odds bets advised at the start of the series, India are right back in it after their batting big guns fired at Bristol. The bookies call it as a coin toss, going slight odds-on for either team, but I favour India from here, especially with Flintoff's injury doubt.

Life, as ever, is more interesting on the spreads (all markets quoted here available from Sporting Index). If you ignored my advice after the first ODI and resisted the temptation to close your position on Total Series Wides, you will have been rewarded by the spread moving back to pretty much where it started the series. Could go either way this one. The First 15 Overs Runs spread is now quoted at 960-985, which again is pretty much where it started, but I still like the sell advised at the start of the series. A poor decision for Tendulkar robbed buyers of the Batsmen Ton-Up spread of some very easy money: 72 - 78 still repesents a profit for early closers, but I suggest keeping the position open. With no run-outs either at Bristol, it's a similar story with the spread tightening to 10 - 10.6.

As for the Trumpet's tips in the player markets, Tendulkar's fine knock has taken his Total Series Runs out to 300 - 315 making the Trumpet's sell at 235 - 250 advice look pretty poor. The value of imposing a "Stop-Loss" on a position might become evident if Sachin goes big again today. Colly's Series 50-Up Spread has floated down a little, but I still like the look of that buy as I think Colly has at least a couple of decent knocks in him.

Not much value to be had today, but if I had to choose one market, I'd go with a buy position on Alastair Cook's Total Series runs at 295 - 310. He's already knocked up 138 and looks in form and a fixture at the top of the order for the series.

Time, and your bank balance, will tell.

[The Tooting Trumpet] 

England vs Sri Lanka - The Best of the Bets Part III

As our picture (taken three days ago) shows, anything, or nothing, could happen at Galle over the next five days. Whilst a consensus has grown that it is a good thing for Test cricket to return to Galle just three years after the death and destruction wrought by the tsunami. In that spirit, players, the press and fans appear to agree that the under-prepared outer and facilities should be dealt with. Nevertheless, The Trumpet contends that a Test match requires a pitch to be of a functionally minimum standard. This is the final Test of a hard fought series, the outcome of which is still in doubt. If the pitch isn't ready, the series should be declared complete and the players should play some T20 cricket to entertain the fans and show their solidarity with people who lost a lot more than a Test Match. But a Test should not be played for the sake of it.

In the light of all that, the Trumpet is loathe to make any suggestions for gambles, but he updates on past recommendations over the jump.   

The Trumpet tipped a drawn series which was available at 4/1 (for 1-1) which, given that everyone wants to play and Galle's pitch looks like it will produce a result, is still looking quite good value. I tipped Ryan Sidebottom as England's top bowler at 9/2 - he has impressed, but all that hard work has produced just 4 wickets to date. Finally on the fixed odds, I tipped Michael Vandort at 15/2 for the top Lankan batsman: with 195 runs so far, he's given a decent run for your money, but he's still well off the pace set by the Lankan big guns, Sangakkara and Jayawardene.

On the spreads, Sportingindex offered England's series ton ups at 80 - 95, which the Trumpet saw as a useful buy. After England's extraordinary collective failure to turn any one of ten fifties into a ton, this market represents a loss most unlikely to be recovered at Galle. I blame the umpires (well, a bit).  The England tail's perceived weakness led me to suggest a big sell on that market available at 190 - 210. Helped by Jimmy Anderson's nightwatchman stint pushing the unexpectedly solid Matt Prior down to 8 in the First Test, England's 8 to 11 have garnered 150 runs so far, but might not get many more. A small win beckons! Finally, The Trumpet recommended a buy on Alastair Cook's total runs market quoted at 195 - 210. After a disastrous start, Cook has 147 runs to date - if he can get his head down and avoid another umpiring howler, the bet might just pay out.

Perhaps we should just hope for some decent Test match cricket and wish the long-suffering people of Galle a happy five days as they continue to re-build their lives.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

England vs Sri Lanka - The Best of the Bets Part II

Having tipped England to win the ODI series (at a handy 5/2), The Trumpet ventures forth searching for value in the upcoming Test series. Join me over the jump for the fixed odds and spread market tips.

I like the look of a drawn series which is available at 4/1 with Paddy Power (for 1-1) that you might want to run alongside a little saver on an England series win at 3/1 with Stan James. Once we can be sure of his selection, I fancy Ryan Sidebottom as England's top bowler (9/2 with Paddy Power). Finally Michael Vandort looked very good Down Under recently and might be worth a small punt with Paddy Power at 15/2 for the top Lankan batsman, should the big guns fail.

On the spreads, Sportingindex are offering England's series ton ups at 80 - 95, which the Trumpet sees as a useful buy. (For new readers of this column, this means that I expect England's century-makers to score a combined total of at least 95 runs above the 100 mark: so one knock of 196 from KP puts me in the money or a 146 from Colly with a 150 from Michael Vaughan). The Trumpet's much er... trumpeted fears for the England tail leads me to suggest a big sell on that market available at 190 - 210 (batsmen 8 to 11 total runs for the series). Finally, The Trumpet is recommending a buy on Alastair Cook's total runs market quoted at 195 - 210 - he can hit tons on the sub-continent and the Lankans' new ball attack is not as strong as it might be.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

England vs Sri Lanka - The Best of the Bets

What to make of England's ODI form? Rubbish - that's what to make of England's ODI form. Or is it? This year has seen two global tournaments, the World Cup won by Australia and the World T20 won by India. And 2007 has seen England win two ODI series: one against Australia, the other against India. That cricket is a funny old game is no less true for its cliche status.

The Lankans are never easy to beat on their own patch (and, after a 5-0 ODI shellacking handed out to England last time they toured, they're not bad away from home either) but lynchpin Murali is out for at least three of the five games. I'm pretty sure he won't risk his 709th Test wicket by turning out half-fit in ODI cricket, so The Trumpet has a sneaky feeling for England in this series. Over the jump, I identify a bit of value for the bold (or the stupid). 

With the fixed odds bookies, I like Totesport's 5/2 about an England series win and Blue Square's 10/3 about Ian Bell as England's top bat.

As ever, there's more fun in the spread markets with my top four investments quoted by Sporting Index.

Top Tip is a buy in the Total Series Innings 300-Ups market at 25 - 30. With T20 the flavour of the month and the Aussies treating 300 as a par score in ODI cricket, I'm expecting more than 300 as a target in at least two matches, which should see over 30 runs scored in excess of the run-a-ball mark and a decent profit in this market.

Neither side run well, so I'm keen to buy the Total Series Run-Outs market at 7 - 8.5. I'm also expecting to see the run to the keeper taken more often in ODI cricket's last over.

I like the look of a buy in KP's Series 50s-Ups market at 45 - 50. He's not in the best of nick, but he's at least a couple of good knocks in him and that'll see this market in profit.

Finally, the Colonel is an unknown quantity but, with Prior injured, his reward for a good series could be the gloves in all forms of cricket. He has improved enormously this season and has Durham pal Ottis Gibson along for the trip, so he's worth a punt. The England Series Wicketkeeper Performance market allocates one point to a run, ten to a catch and 25 to a stumping. It's quoted at 200 - 215 and, with the Colonel opening in the warm-up match, that's a buy for me.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Twenty20 World Cup - The Best of the Bets: The Outcomes

Now that the dust has settled on a fabulous tournament, how fared The Trumpet's tips from that distant time when we weren't sure whether T20 had a future at international level? I'll see you over the jump with the damage.

"With the fixed odds bookmakers, VC Bet offers 12/1 about Pakistan, which I like as an each-way bet at 1/3 odds". Nice money!

"AB de Villiers has played some extraordinary innings in recent years, and I suggest Stan James is offering a generous price of 28/1 about him being the Top Tournament Scorer. I'd go each way with Dwayne Bravo as Top Tournament Bowler at 20/1 with the same company - he'll bowl at the death where there will be plenty of cheap wickets for the disciplined bowler." Not so good!

"I'm recommending a buy on Total First 6 Overs Runs at 2725 - 2800" Ouch! Settled at 2426 for a loss of 374 points! The stop-loss would have been in play.

"I also like a buy of Total Batsman Ton-Ups at 29 - 33" Settled at 18, but I would have closed the position after Chris Gayle's knock in Match One at a healthy profit.

"Total Run Outs are quoted at 35 - 39 and that's another buy for me with plenty of singles being taken to the keeper to get the right man on strike at the death." Settled at 42 for a small profit.

I'd suggest that's not a bad return when looking for value. I'll be back over the weekend with the value in the Sri Lanka - England series.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Twenty20 World Cup - The Best of the Bets

Not without trepidation, The Trumpet goes rooting through the internets looking for value for the discerning investor. Unperturbed by some outrageous umpiring decisions in the England vs India ODI series (amazing how immoderate one's language becomes once there's a personal interest), leap over the jump for The Trumpet's Tips.

With the fixed odds bookmakers, VC Bet offers 12/1 about Pakistan, which I like as an each-way bet at 1/3 odds. Pakistan have got their biggest row over before the tournament starts and have more matchwinners than any nation outside Australia - crash and burn, or soar on a sea of adrenaline? AB de Villiers has played some extraordinary innings in recent years, and I suggest Stan James is offering a generous price of 28/1 about him being the Top Tournament Scorer. I'd go each way with Dwayne Bravo as Top Tournament Bowler at 20/1 with the same company - he'll bowl at the death where there will be plenty of cheap wickets for the disciplined bowler.

Sporting Index is The Googly's favoured spread market makers, and they offer a wide range of distinctly risky bets! Sides will be looking to open with their big hitters, so I'm recommending a buy on Total First 6 Overs Runs at 2725 - 2800: crunched out, that means I fancy more than 52 runs per innings in the powerplays. I also like a buy of Total Batsman Ton-Ups at 29 - 33: that means I'm expecting more than 33 runs from all the century-makers over and above their hundred. (Frankly, I'd buy that market if it applied to just Hayden, Smith and Gayle). Total Run Outs are quoted at 35 - 39 and that's another buy for me with plenty of singles being taken to the keeper to get the right man on strike at the death.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series

Many moons ago, when we all thought a series of seven ODIs would be balls-achingly dull, The Trumpet ventured forth to find some value with the fixed odds bookmakers and the spread betting market makers.

Here's how the sorry tale of how the tips turned out.

With the fixed odds bookmakers, 4/6 about an India series win floundered on this resurgent new England team. Colly to be top English wicket taker at 10/1 looked good at times, as he bowled more overs (46) than many would have expected, but was rewarded with just three wickets compared to Jimmy's impressive 14. The Trumpet went with MS Dhoni at 10/1 to be top Indian run scorer, and the ex-Show Pony did well with 175, but was well behind the old stagers, with Tendulkar's 374 winning out (despite the umpiring). One of the many greats unlikely to play in England again, Sourav Ganguly, was the Trumpet's pick for top Indian wicket-taker at 20/1 - like Colly, he bowled plenty of overs (25), but had just 2 wickets, but such was the lack of Indian penetration, RP Singh topped that category with a mere 7 wickets.

The spread markets are usually more hit and miss and that was the story for the Trumpet's tips. (Bear in mind that all of the Trumpet's positions could be closed at any time to cut losses and the use of the "stop-loss" facility is also recommended).

The Trumpet's sell on First 15 Overs Runs (965 - 995) was settled at 1031 for a loss of £66 (at £1 per run). The Trumpet's buy in the Batsman Ton-Ups market (54-60) was settled at 35 for a loss of £25 at £1 per run, having shown a healthy profit if closed after the first ODI. The umpires didn't help here! Series Run-Outs (9.6 - 10.4) was advised as a buy and settled at 12 for a profit of £16 at £1 per point. The Trumpet's favourite market was Total Series Wides (118 - 124) advised as a buy and settled at 103 for a loss of £21 at £1 per wide.

In the player markets, The Trumpet's sell of Tendulkar's runs (235 - 250) was settled at 374 for a loss of £139 at £1 per run, I hope stopped at £100. The Little Master was unlucky not to get more and showed that looking tired is not the same as being spent. Some of that loss would have been recovered with the buy of Colly's Series 50-Ups (28-33) settled at 55 for a profit of £22 at £1 per run.

I'll be back tomorrow with the value in the Twenty20 markets, if you dare read on after that performance!

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series Update Number Three

After England's extraordinary win in the Fourth ODI, powered home by the two youngest players in the side, it's time to look again to get the abacus out and assess The Trumpet's tips' performance to date.

The less said about the fixed odds tips, the better, so we move swiftly on to the Spread bets with all markets quoted offered by Sporting Index.

At the start of the series, The Trumpet advised a sell on First 15 Overs Runs originally quoted at 965 - 995. That market has barely moved to 970 - 985 and I still like the look of that sell.

Next up, The Trumpet advised a buy on the Batsman Ton-Ups market at 54-60. That market rose after the first ODI, but is now back to 55 - 60 and I still like that buy.

The Trumpet liked a buy on Run-Outs at 9.6 - 10.4. Despite some comedy running from Ganguly in particular, that market is now quoted at 9 - 9.4. I suggest that there's more panic to come and even at 10.4, the buy is looking good.

The Trumpet's top tip was a buy of Total Series Wides at 118 - 124. If you refused to cut your losses by closing your position after the First ODI, the spread is now 113 - 116 with swingers' paradise Headingley and radar-wrecking sloping Lord's to come. You may yet get out of that hole.

In the player markets, The Trumpet's sell of Tendulkar's Total Series Runs at 235 - 250 still looks poor with 179 scored to date and the spread quoted at 295 - 305. The "Stop-Loss" option may well be a saver here.

Colly's Series 50-Up spread at 28 - 33 was advised as a buy and has suffered from his tendency to get out in the 40s. He is now quoted at 15 - 20, but he's in form and that buy might yet deliver.

Alastair Cook's Total Series runs at 295 - 310 was advised as a buy. He got a very good one yesterday, so he's still in form, as the spread reflects in its gentle floating down to 278 - 288. There's more runs in the boy and I still like that buy.

The Trumpet will return at the end of the series with the full extent of the damage.

[The Tooting Trumpet]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series Update Number Two

Time to get the abacus out again and assess the success (or, alas) otherwise of The Trumpet's tips prior to the Third ODI starting later this morning and search for a bit of value.

Amongst the fixed odds bets advised at the start of the series, India are right back in it after their batting big guns fired at Bristol. The bookies call it as a coin toss, going slight odds-on for either team, but I favour India from here, especially with Flintoff's injury doubt.

Life, as ever, is more interesting on the spreads (all markets quoted here available from Sporting Index). If you ignored my advice after the first ODI and resisted the temptation to close your position on Total Series Wides, you will have been rewarded by the spread moving back to pretty much where it started the series. Could go either way this one. The First 15 Overs Runs spread is now quoted at 960-985, which again is pretty much where it started, but I still like the sell advised at the start of the series. A poor decision for Tendulkar robbed buyers of the Batsmen Ton-Up spread of some very easy money: 72 - 78 still repesents a profit for early closers, but I suggest keeping the position open. With no run-outs either at Bristol, it's a similar story with the spread tightening to 10 - 10.6.

As for the Trumpet's tips in the player markets, Tendulkar's fine knock has taken his Total Series Runs out to 300 - 315 making the Trumpet's sell at 235 - 250 advice look pretty poor. The value of imposing a "Stop-Loss" on a position might become evident if Sachin goes big again today. Colly's Series 50-Up Spread has floated down a little, but I still like the look of that buy as I think Colly has at least a couple of decent knocks in him.

Not much value to be had today, but if I had to choose one market, I'd go with a buy position on Alastair Cook's Total Series runs at 295 - 310. He's already knocked up 138 and looks in form and a fixture at the top of the order for the series.

Time, and your bank balance, will tell.

[The Tooting Trumpet] 

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series Update Number One

Prior to the first of the seven matches of the England vs India ODI series, The Trumpet brought you the value available from both the fixed odds bookmakers and the spread betting market makers. Feeling just a little pleased with himself, The Trumpet reports below on progress and offers a little more advice, if you want to gamble hard earned cash.

With the fixed odds bookies, The Trumpet tipped India for the series win at 4/6. After a disastrous performance at The Rose Bowl, India are 5/4 against, although there are still six matches to play, so The Trumpet is hopeful. Colly tipped at 10/1 to be top English wicket taker looks a loser (he's available at 33s), despite the fact that, as The Trumpet forecast, the pacemen didn't bowl their full allocations. MS Dhoni has shortened to 13/2 to be top Indian batsman from 10/1 when tipped by The Trumpet and, frankly, he looked as competent or incompetent as anyone else. Amongst the Indian bowlers, The Trumpet's 20/1 Ganguly tip looks pretty much the same as it did on Monday, as the Indian bowlers haven't really turned up yet.

In the spread markets, The Trumpet's top tip to buy Total Series Wides (118 - 124) has not done too well with just 9 signalled at the Rose Bowl. Sporting Index is now quoting that market at 104 - 110 and The Trumpet advises closing that position and taking a 20 quid loss at a pound per wide.

Better news from The Trumpet's other tips, led off by the sell position advised on First 15 Overs Runs (965 - 995). With just 100 runs managed in total by both sides in their first 15 overs, the spread is now quoted at 920 - 945, offsetting the Total Wides loss should you choose to close: The Trumpet feels that there's more money in this buy and to close now would be hasty. The Trumpet advised buying the Batsman Ton-Ups market (54-60) - with Belly Boy (126) and Cook (102) both surprising us with tons, 28 of the required 60 runs have been scored already. With the spread quoted at 80 - 86, closing today would yield 20 quid at a pound per run, but there's more money in this market, I feel. Finally, The Trumpet advised a buy on Series Run-Outs (9.6 - 10.4). Ganguly didn't let me down, and this market is now quoted at 11.2 - 12.0 yielding 8 quid at a pound per 0.1. There's no need to close here either.

Sporting Index are now quoting individual player markets. The Trumpet fancies selling Tendulkar's runs at 235 - 250. The Little Master is looking tired and might make a few more nothing scores like Tuesday's 17 before the series is out - four more 20s would leave him having to score 70s in his other two knocks before he starts costing you money and I'm not sure it's in him any more. The other value on the spreads is buying Colly's Series 50-Ups at 28-33 (the number of runs Colly scores above 50 in an innings, eg 70 counts as 20). Colly is cock-a-hoop as captain and I fancy some quick scoring from him. Expect to see the skipper higher up the order too, as he'll want to take some form into the Twenty20s in South Africa. 

Watch this space for updates, and watch your wallet for losses.

[The Tooting Trumpet]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series Spread Markets

The Betting Coach is pleased to sit on your shoulder and whisper temptation into Googlyers' left ears, this time in the spread markets - see below for the value with the fixed odds bookmakers.

The spreads offer a whole different set of opportunities to damage the pocket of the unwary. For a brief explanation of what this is all about, see my fumblings, but, frankly, if you need an explanation, you shouldn't be dabbling with these dangerous toys.

Sporting Index offers a wide range of gambles for the discerning wallet. For those bold enough, here's where The Trumpet advises investment.

In this swinging Summer, neither team is likely to attack the new ball like Kaluwitharana and Jayasuriya, so the Trumpet is advising a sell on First 15 Overs Runs (965 - 995). This means that I'm expecting an average of fewer than 69 runs scored in the first fifteen overs across the series. With 10-2 more likely to be on a scoreboard than 110-2, this looks good, if not great, value.

Once established, I see some of the big bats cashing in, especially in the last 10 overs when well-set batsman can really pile it on. This leads me to advise buying the Batsman Ton-Ups market (54-60). This means I'm expecting the series century-makers to aggregate more than 60 on top of their ton in their century knocks (so if KP scores 120 tomorrow, I'm 20 runs on towards my target). Good value, but one to bail out of early, if there's no tons in the first three matches.

My second choice market is Series Run-Outs (9.6 - 10.4). With the likes of Ganguly in town and some very slow and uncertain runners in both line-ups, this is a clear buy. The Trumpet will be surprised if there are fewer than an average of one per innings which will yield a settlement at 14 and a handy pay-off.

If anyone is still with me, my favourite market is Total Series Wides (118 - 124). Apart from the white ball, the inaccuracy of the bowling attacks all summer and the razor sharp keeness of umpires to lift the arms, there is an inexorable inflation in wides worldwide. If we get anything like 100 overs in each match, buying a market which works out at less than 9 wides per innings has just got to be value. At least one match will see those nine wides called in the first 15 overs. Surely this market represents the gambler's nirvana - buying money?

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Betting Coach - England vs India The ODI Series Fixed Odds

The Betting Coach is pleased to bring Googlyers news from the fixed odds bookmakers looking for value in the seven (count'em) yes seven match England vs India ODI Series. For news of the spread markets, see above.

With neither side covering themselves with glory at the World Cup and managements seemingly stuck between a desire to re-build and a reluctance to be radical in team selection (and there's the Twenty20 World something next month for that), it's tempting to bet on both sides to lose. But Chac is unlikely to rule the roost for all seven days, though I fear we can expect and appearance or two from the gruesome twosome, Mssrs Duckworth and Lewis.

So where's the value?

England's ODI form has been poor for, well a generation it seems, and though I'm reluctant to bet against home teams, especially over a seven match series, I like Sky Bet's 4/6 about an India series win.

Amongst the player bets, it's impossible to bet against KP as England's top bat, but at 2/1, there's no value there. I like the look of Colly to be top English wicket taker at 10/1 with Paddy Power (alas run outs don't count) as he'll play all seven matches (injury permitting) and I fancy his slower ball to produce a few catches in the deep.

India are unlikely to play a settled XI through the series, but we can be pretty sure that MS Dhoni will keep throughout. With captaincy in the Twenty20 looming and a maturity evident in his Test batting this summer, he looks superb value to be top Indian run scorer at 10/1 with Corals - that Dhoni is as skinny as 6/1 with Skybet suggests I'm not the only one who likes this gamble. With India likely to rotate bowlers through the series, I'm advising a long shot for top Indian wicket taker. Sourav Ganguly enjoyed his bowling this summer and, at 20/1 with SkyBet, he's worth a small punt.

The spreads offer some intriguing gambles which I cover above.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Betting Coach - England vs India Third Test Day Three

The Trumpet would never advise anyone to bet - when did you last see a poor bookie - but gambling offers an interesting insight into the wisdom of crowds: the market's fascinating ability to aggregate individual decisions. Bookies set their odds to capture as much punters' money as possible, so we can be fairly assured that more people fancy the quoted favourite than fancy the options quoted at longer odds. Yesterday, with the wisdom of the crowd expected India to score 505, The Trumpet liked the even money offered by Stan James about India scoring more than that - a winning bet as the hideous truth emerged in Kennington.

Today The Trumpet ventures into the dangerous waters of spread betting, wherein gains and losses can be very large and the shrewd punter plays online and maximises lots of small gains, without ever seeing the bet settled. For more explanation of this arcane system, click here. 

For Day Three at the Oval, The Trumpet likes the looks of a couple of bets offered by Sporting Index. 

They go with a 15-18 spread for Jimmy Anderson's runs - I can't see him adding much to his overnight 5 and recommend selling that market. (Quick explanation - this means that if I stake a tenner and Jimmy is out for 8, I win 15 - 8 = 7 x that tenner stake yielding me 70 quid! The downside is that in the unlikely event of Jimmy knuckling down, squirting a few boundaries and making 32, I would lose 32 - 15 = 17 x the tenner stake, putting me 170 quid in the hole - but I would have bailed out long before then).

The bet I really fancy though, is to sell England on the 400 - 415 spread. England are shattered, with Sideshow spending more time in hospital than at the ground, Jimmy a sitting duck to give India an early boost, Prior likely to get a morale-destroying reception on his way to the wicket and a tail as weak as any I've seen. I think England will do well to get 350, which makes that spread very attractive indeed. Time, as ever, will tell.

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]

Betting Coach - England vs India Third Test Day Two

A week or so ago, The Trumpet brought you the ante post value available for the Third Test. Despite the consensus being that it was India's day, with  England doing as well as could be expected (assisted by the rub of the green with the umpiring), the bookies have shifted their stances quicker than Paul Nixon essaying his signature shot. England's favouritism is but a memory. The best odds available for an England victory are 11/2 (Sporting Odds), which might be worth taking hedged against Laxman as next man out available at 8/11 (Stan James). You can get 7/4 about India winning the Test (VC Bet), but with only a draw required by Dravid, I can't see him pressing for the win.

Perhaps the best value is found in the market for India's first innings - Stan James offer evens about any score above 505. Unless England's flogged bowlers can snare both Tendulkar and Laxman before lunch, I can't see England getting away with less than 350 to avoid the follow-on. The Trumpet's 10 Swedish Kronor would be with Stan James now were he able to access the British version of the site and therein place a bet on cricket!

[The Tooting Trumpet] [Image: Getty]