England v India: Root 12/1 To Move Up To Third In All-Time Test Runs List

England have been made 6/10 favourites to win the opening Test of their five-match series against India at Headingley tomorrow, with Joe Root likely to play a key role for the hosts.

India – led by newly-appointed Test captain Shubman Gill and yet to officially confirm their playing XI – are 15/8 outsiders in cricket betting markets to take a 1-0 lead in Leeds, with the draw priced at 17/2.

In the individual player markets, England welcome back Chris Woakes to their bowling attack, and the veteran seamer is 13/8 favourite to be their top wicket taker in the first innings. Jasprit Bumrah, fresh from a stellar IPL campaign, leads the market for India at even-money.

Much of the pre-match discussion has centred on England’s decision to stick with Ollie Pope at number three. The Surrey vice-captain is priced at 7/1 to top score in the first innings, while Yorkshire’s own Joe Root heads the England batting market at 3/1.

Root needs 284 runs in this match to overtake both Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis on the all-time Test list – an achievement priced at 12/1 to occur in the series opener.

For India, left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is the favourite to top score at 3/1, while new captain Gill is priced at 9/2.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “England’s five-match Test series against India marks the start of a defining seven-month period for Ben Stokes’ captaincy with an Ashes tour to follow, and we now make the home side a 6/10 shot to open with a win at Headingley.

“While Chris Woakes returns as 13/8 favourite to lead the bowling, the big story could come with the bat – Joe Root (3/1 to top score) needs just 284 runs to move into third place in the all-time Test run scoring charts, above legends Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis.

“We’ve launched a 12/1 special for him to achieve that feat this week in Leeds, which would leave only Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar ahead of him.

“For India, Yashasvi Jaiswal (3/1) will be crucial at the top, with plenty of eyes also on new skipper Shubman Gill (9/2) as he takes on the Test captaincy for the first time.”

*Odds correct at time of writing – prices subject to change*