With Phil Vickery almost sure to be ruled out through injury and Jonny Wilkinson definitely out, William Hill have opened a book on which player will start as England captain when they face the All Blacks in the first Test of their summer tour.

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William Hill have installed Bath second row Steve Borthwick as the 3/1 favourite and also offer 4/1 about his fellow second row Ben Kay, flanker Lewis Moody, lock Simon Shaw, 8/1 for No 8 Nick Easter and fly-half Charlie Hidgson, 10/1 about centre Mike Tindall and 16/1 for current golden boy Danny Cipriani.

Borthwick, who will join Saracens at the end of the season, captained England to an unconvincing victory over Italy in Rome in the Six Nations this season after Vickery absent due to illness.

"With Vickery sidelined there would seem to be no overwhelming clear favourite and it will be intriguing to see who Martin Johnson and Rob Andrew opt for to launch the new era," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Vickery is a major doubt for the summer tour of New Zealand after a knee ligament tear was confirmed. The Wasps star has been ruled out for approximately eight weeks after sustaining a tear to his medial collateral ligament in his right knee during his side's recent victory against Sale Sharks.

England play two Tests in New Zealand, the first of which takes place on June 14, against an All Blacks side intent on proving that they are the world's best side despite their World Cup quarter-final defeat to France last season.

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