05-17-2019, 12:39 AM
Sir Ian Botham says England should not be written off ahead of their Test series in India with Ben Stokes backed to lead them to victory. After Englands recent struggles on the sub-continent in Bangladesh - drawing the series 1-1 - India go into the five-match campaign as red-hot favourites.But Botham, who will be commentating on the series for Sky Sports, says England are capable of repeating their 2012/13 series success in the country. Watch all five Tests live on Sky Sports as Alastair Cooks side take on the No 1 side in the world The former all-rounder said: The last time England were here no-one saw them winning and we hammered them (by 10 wickets in Mumbai and seven wickets in Kolkata to win the series 2-1) so lets not get lets not get too gloomy.Forget Bangladesh - this is the Test series that matters. Congratulations to them but everyone is looking at this series. Its the number-one team against the guys who could be number one further down the line.Botham, who is also providing his tips for Sky Bet during the series, added: Theres no value in backing India at 1/10. If youre having bet, it has to be England at 12/1 - you can even have a saver at 10/1 on the drawn series although they are rare these days. Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain discuss the key to success for England as they prepare for the first of their five-match Test series in India Botham, who toured India himself with England back in 1981/82, also believes Stokes is the man who can shine with the bat for the tourists with his positive approach set to reap dividends.With holes having appeared in Englands top order, Stokes - 7/1 to be Englands top runscorer - looks capable of capitalising, just as he did in South Africa last winter when he made a memorable 258 in Cape Town, says Botham.Stokes can destroy spinners. He will attack them and be aggressive. As far as the bowlers go, you have to back a spinner to star - its going to be hard work for the seamers - but we arent entirely sure whos going to play.Moeen Ali should though and I can see him taking plenty of wickets in India. Ali is 11/4 to be Englands top wicket-taker in the series.After a sensational 2016 which has seen him take 44 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 19.86, Ravi Ashwin is the man everyones talking about in Indias attack but Botham believes Ravindra Jadeja - 7/2 to be Indias leading wicket-taker - could cause just as many problems as the left-armer will be turning the ball away from most of Englands best batsmen. Ravindra Jadeja: Can cause problems with his left-arm spin As for top India bat, Ajinkya Rahane (9/2) is one to keep an eye on and capable of outshining Indias leading light Virat Kohli, says Beefy.Beefys Bets for the India v England seriesEngland to win - 12/1Ben Stokes to be top England runscorer - 7/1Moeen Ali to be top England wicket-taker - 11/4Ravindra Jadeya to be top India wicket-taker - 7/2Ajinkya Rahane to be top India runscorer - 9/2 Watch the first Test between India and England in Rajkot on Wednesday, live from 3.30am on Sky Sports 2 Watch the first Test between India and England from 3.30am on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD. Or watch the whole of the first Test for £10.99 without a contract - with a Week Pass from NOW TV. Also See: Roots England insights Ben Duckett blog Debut for Hameed Sky Cricket Podcast Kenny Young Ravens Jersey .C. -- Benn Ferrieros familiar with scoring important goals, just not in back-to-back games. Lamar Jackson Ravens Jersey . "Hes over there," the first baseman said. "You dont need to talk to anybody else." Indeed, Peralta did it all as the majors top team won again. http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/You...ersey/.com) - The Chicago Cubs reportedly signed recently-acquired outfielder Dexter Fowler to a one-year contract on Friday, avoiding arbitration. Jaleel Scott Ravens Jersey . Halak, 28, split his eighth NHL seasons between the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals, compiling a 29-13-7 record in 52 games. Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . It will be their 15th head-to-head meeting and fourth in the post-season (Sunday at 2pm et/11am pt on CTV) and for his part, Brady isnt downplaying just how big the game is for him. "Im excited - Its everything you could ask for as an athlete," the New England Patriots quarterback told WEEI Radio in Boston on Monday.HOUSTON -- Houston manager Bo Porter knows that many question why he keeps penciling Chris Carter into the lineup game after game when the designated hitter is batting below .200. Carter illustrated perfectly Wednesday night why Porter sticks with him. Carter homered twice, Dallas Keuchel pitched eight strong innings and the Astros beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1. Carters first solo home run made it 3-1 in the fourth inning, and he added an opposite-field shot in the seventh. It was the fifth career multihomer game for Carter and second this year. The slugger has struggled this season and is batting just .199, but his power is undeniable and hes tied for the team lead with 12 homers. "Hes been up and down this year," Porter said. "The power numbers are there. The batting average is not there, but at the same time hes had some big hits and tonight is a step in a huge direction to him getting going." Carter led the Astros with 29 homers and 82 RBIs last year in his first full season in the majors. He feels less pressure at the plate now that the lineup has been beefed up with the addition of rookies Jon Singleton and George Springer. "Its nice to have guys like that where you dont feel like youre the only guy in the lineup where you have to do everything or everyone is looking to you to get a home run or something," Carter said. Keuchel (8-3) won for the sixth time in seven starts. He allowed four hits and a run, striking out five and lowering his ERA to 2.38. Even though the game is more than a month away, Porter was already stumping for Keuchel to get the All-Star call. "You look at the season Dallas Keuchel has put together to this point and if hes not an All-Star, what is? He continues to impress," Porter said. "Its a joy to watch." Brandon McCarthy (1-9) allowed eight hits and four runs in six-plus innings to remain winless since May 3. "I wasnt sharp from the get-go, but I thought I did a good job to get as deep as I could," McCarthy said. "The seventh inning thhere.ddddddddddddThe home run hurts and the guys getting on after that hurts and kind of spoils everything." Aaron Hill homered in the fourth for Arizonas only extra-base hit. Springer had two hits and an RBI and Singleton drove in a run as the Astros won for the fifth time in seven games. McCarthy has had success in Houston in the past and entered the game 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in his career at Minute Maid Park. But the Astros got going against him early, with Springer singling in the first, Singleton drawing a walk and Jason Castro grounding an RBI single. Singleton was thrown out at third on the play. Jonathan Villar singled to start Houstons third before a one-out single by Springer. Both players advanced on a wild pitch by McCarthy before Villar scored on a groundout by Singleton to make it 2-0. The Diamondbacks didnt get a hit until Hill led off the fourth with his homer to the Crawford Boxes in left field to cut the lead to 2-1. Paul Goldschmidt singled after Hills homer, but Keuchel got back on track after that and retired 13 of his next 14 batters. The only hit in that span came on a single by Chris Owings with one out in the sixth inning. Ender Inciarte singled with two outs in the Arizona eighth, but Keuchel retired Owings to end the inning and Keuchels night. Springer drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. NOTES: The series wraps up on Thursday when Arizonas Wade Miley opposes Scott Feldman. ... Houston 2B Jose Altuve missed his first game of the season because of soreness in his oblique muscle. Porter said Altuve didnt want to take the day off and tried to convince him to let him play. ... Diamondbacks OF Gerardo Parra was out of the lineup for a scheduled day off. ... The Astros signed several players taken in last weeks draft. They signed second round pick 1B A.J. Reed, RHP Ryan Thompson (23rd round), RHP Vince Wheeland (24th round), LHP Zach Davis (25th round), INF Mott Hyde (26th round), RHP Brandon McNitt (27th round) and RHP Keegan Yuhl (35th round). Wholesale MLB Orioles Jerseys Red Sox Jerseys From China Discount Yankees Jerseys Online Rays Jerseys For Sale Blue Jays Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB White Sox Jerseys Indians Jerseys For Sale Tigers Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Astros Jerseys Cheap Baseball Angels Jerseys Athletics Jerseys From China Mariners Jerseys For Sale Cheap Baseball Rangers Jerseys Braves Jerseys For Sale Discount Marlins Jerseys Online Discount Mets Jerseys Online Phillies Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Nationals Jerseys Cubs Jerseys From China Discount Reds Jerseys Online Brewers Jerseys From China Wholesale MLB Pirates Jerseys Wholesale MLB Cardinals Jerseys Diamondbacks Jerseys For Sale Rockies Jerseys For Sale Discount Dodgers Jerseys Online Discount Padres Jerseys Online Giants Jerseys For Sale ' ' '