Despite the fact that the weather in Birmingham looks all but certain to rob the 2nd Test v Sri Lanka of its full five days, bookies William Hill are seeing a surge of support for England to win, including a wager of £8,000, and as a result have cut England's odds from 6/5 to Even money. The Draw odds have lengthened from 8/11 to 10/11.
"Punters obviously feel that nowadays Test matches rarely go the full five days and are remembering that if England had held on to their catches they could have wrapped up the 1st Test within three days." said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.
William Hill 2nd Test: Evens England, 10/11 Draw, 10/1 Sri Lanka
How Many Catches Will England Drop? 0-2 6/4, 3-4 13/8, 5 or More 2/1. *At least one full Sri Lankan innings must be completed for bets to stand.
William Hill Odds Top England Batsman - 2nd Test: 10/3 K Pietersen, 7/2 M Trescothick, 7/2 A Strauss, 9/2 A Cook, 6/1 P Collingwood, 7/1 A Flintoff, 20/1 G Jones, 50/1 S Mahmood, 50/1 L Plunkett, 66/1 M Hoggard, 100/1 J Lewis, 125/1 M Panesar.
William Hill are also offering 8/15 that the first Sri Lankan wicket to go down in the game will be as a result of a catch; 11/4 that it is an LBW decision; 9/2 that the batsman is bowled; 20/1 run-out; 40/1 stumped; 100/1 any other manner of dismissal.