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Fixed Odds: 2008 Test series: Eng v NZ Pietersen looks a generous price May 9, 2008
Ever since he broke into the England side and was an instant success, Kevin Pietersen has generally found himself at the top of the betting markets when it comes to series batting, and it is the same again this summer with the visit of New Zealand. Click here to bet on England v New Zealand at bet365 The Hampshire man is the clear favourite to be top runscorer in the three-Test series, with bet365 making him 9/4. And rightly so. Although he has flattered to deceive at times, and sometimes appears a touch lazy, he has dominated most of the series he has played on home soil. In fact, since and including the Ashes in 2005, Pietersen has topped the scoring charts in four of the five home series, which means that 9/4 is actually pretty generous. In that time, Alastair Cook has finished in the top three on three occasions - the three most recent series to be exact - while Andrew Strauss top-scored against Pakistan in 2006. Cook is the 7/2 second-favourite and that seems about right, while Ian Bell is 5/1 alongside captain Michael Vaughan, who is due a big series. New Zealand's pick and mix bowlers might just give him that chance and batting at No 3, as he says he will, should help. Strauss is 11/2 fifth favourite but he could be worth watching because he will open and if successful early on, his confidence will go through the roof. He still has one or two technical problems, though, so he is perhaps worth watching first. Paul Collingwood is 6/1 and Andrew Flintoff 16/1, which would be a massive price if we knew that he was going to be fit for the first Test and then stay fit. He is probably worth leaving for now and looking closer when South Africa tour later this summer as Vaughan definitely wants him in the team for those Tests. But, when it comes down to it, all the value in the world in terms of outsiders is pretty irrelevant if the favourite is the man to finish on top and in this case, I think 9/4 is an excellent price on Pietersen, so snap it up quickly.
Cambers' Call: Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change. Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's betting correspondent © Cricinfo 
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