Cricket Betting: South Africa vs England 4th Test Preview
England clenched the Test Series 2-0 against South Africa with a comprehensive win at the Wanderers in the Third Test. But, this doesn’t take anything away from the excitement for the fourth and final Test to be played at the Supersport Park, Centurion from Friday January 22nd.
It has been an odd series for the Proteas who have been mired in selection controversies, injuries and crumbling form. This is nothing to take away from what England has achieved because the visitors were better than the beleaguered hosts in every department. Alastair Cook and his men have been meticulous every minute they played in the series so far and there’s no reason why they will let the South Africans off the hook one last time.
The appointment of AB De Villiers as the captain midway through the series, after Hashim Amla stepped aside, was supposed to revive the sagging spirits. But, there was no sign of it at Wanderers as they crumbled like nine pins against the hostility of Stuart Broad for just 83 runs in the second innings. The poor form of their three pillars AB, Amla and Faf du Plessis is showing no signs of abating.
Experienced opener Stephen Cook has been called into the side at the expense of Stiaan van Zyl and he looks set for his debut. Quinton de Kock should walk back into the side at the expense of Dane Vilas while there could be a place for JP Duminy at the expense of Faf. But again, it is very difficult to predict the final XI for South Africa these days, thanks to its ‘policies of color’.
England are insulated from any such problems as they seem to grow from strength to strength. But, this is not to say that they have no concerns at all. The power hitting of Ben Stokes and the assuredness of Joe Root is masking the failures of top three. That would have been a concern but Stokes, Root and Jonny Bairstow have stepped up to the occasion and bailed them out so far.
The loss of Steven Finn to injury could mean a re-entry to Chris Woakes but there are little concerns on the bowling front. Surprisingly, this side is still inconsistent in many ways but the hosts are too embroiled in problems of their own that they are unable to take any advantage.
England struggled in the past to maintain their intensity in dead rubbers, and they are listed as the $2.30 favourites at William Hill. Centurion had been a fortress for South Africa in the past with just two losses here – one incidentally to England during the infamous 2000 Test match where both sides forfeited an innings. Does this point to a South African win? They are offered at odds of $2.60. It looks highly unlikely considering the troubles within their set-up, but you could back Amla to be their best batsman in the 1st innings at odds of $4.00 at William Hill. James Anderson is due for a big performance and this could be his chance. Back him to be the visitors’ best bowler in the 1st innings at odds of $4.00 at William Hill.
