World Test Championship
England v Pakistan Predictions & Betting Tips: 1st Test Best Bets
England begin a new era at Headingley on Wednesday, with Joe Root leading the side as full-time Test captain for the first time since 2022. William Hill break down the best bets and predictions ahead of the clash.
The cricket betting markets make England the clear favourites for this match. Joe Root’s return to the captaincy, home advantage and seam-friendly Headingley conditions all point in the hosts’ favour. This is England’s first assignment since Ben Stokes’ retirement from red-ball cricket, and Root will be desperate to set the tone against a confident Pakistan side.
Best Bets
- England To Win – 11/20
- Joe Root 1st Innings England Top Run Scorer – 14/5
- Mohammed Ali 1st Innings Pakistan Top Bowler – 5/2
Pakistan arrive on the back of a first away Test win in three years, beating West Indies in Port of Spain, but captain Babar Azam is a fitness doubt after taking a blow to the hand in the warm-up match. Without their talisman fully fit, England’s new-look attack should fancy their chances of exploiting the tourists’ top order early.
Headingley Pitch
Headingley has developed a reputation as one of the most result-oriented venues in world cricket, with no draw at the ground since 2012, the only stalemate there in the last 24 Tests dating back to 1997. There’s overcast weather forecast for Leeds this week, and if there’s any moisture around on the first morning, England’s seamers should have plenty to work with.
It’s rarely a place for cagey cricket, and with both sides needing a strong start to the series, a result looks the most likely outcome by some distance.
England’s New Era
Root’s side has been reshaped in the wake of Ben Stokes’ retirement. Ollie Pope and Brydon Carse return, Dan Lawrence is back in the fold for the first time in two years and slots in at six, while Jordan Cox steps up to first drop after Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the entire series with a knee injury.
The bigger question is how Root balances his bowling attack without Stokes’ seam-bowling option. Shoaib Bashir offers a frontline spin threat, but Root may lean on four seamers and use Lawrence’s off breaks as back-up, particularly if Headingley offers the movement it’s known for.
Root himself remains the totemic figure with the bat, and there’s no better stage for him to mark his first Test back in charge than in front of his home Yorkshire crowd.
The Prediction
England’s home advantage, Headingley’s result-heavy recent history and the emotion around Root’s first Test as full-time captain again all make a strong case for the hosts. Root to be England’s top scorerin the first innings at 14/5 is the pick of the individual markets, judging by his history of scoring runs at this ground.
*Prices accurate at the time of writing – odds subject to change*
