Cricket betting: England hopeful for NZ test

England captain Michael Vaughan has admitted he is worried that losing could become a habit for his beleaguered Test side, failing to notice that it is already too late.

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Following his team's failure to win the final Test against Sri Lanka in Galle – and therefore losing a series in which they were thoroughly outplayed – England have tasted success on the road only once in their last 14 Tests.

And if you ignore a series win over a hapless West Indies last summer, England have lost their last three series. It is all a far cry from the days when Vaughan led England to six consecutive series wins.

Fortunately for England, their next Test appointment is in New Zealand in March next year. They have never lost a series there. However, the bookmakers do not seem too bothered by history. Ladbrokes make New Zealand as short as 6/5 to win the three-test contest. With England 11/8 and the stalemate at 5/2.

It is perhaps an overreaction to England's travails in Sri Lanka, a country where, it should not be forgotten, was never likely to suit the tourists' bowlers or a historic struggle against spin.

Moreover Ladbrokes seem to have ignored that New Zealand, under the tutelage of Danbiel Vettori, have a losing habit just as bad as England. They were hammered in South Africa recently and their batting and bowling looks vastly inferior to England's probable squad.

Indeed, England will not have to contend with batsmen the calibre of Mahela Jayawardene or Kumar Sangakkara. Only Stephen Fleming looks a threat. And with the ball, speedster Shane Bond – if he doesn't play New Zealand usually lose – is struggling with injury and could retire from cricket altogether.

Ladbrokes make England 8/1 shots to win the series 2-0 and they are 25/1 for a whitewash.

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