Gambling on test match cricket is never easy

Anyone who has ever taken an interest in sports gambling will know that even when there is a firm favourite in a two horse race the outcome is never easy to predict. The third test match in Auckland between England and New Zealand is rapidly developing into just such an unpredictable contest. Gambling on cricket has had its share of bad publicity over recent years, but test matches still attract masses of cricket gambling enthusiasts all over the cricketing world because each side’s fortunes can change so many times over a five day period. On the first day of this match New Zealand looked to be in total control on a flat pitch, losing only one wicket and scoring 250 runs. Day two saw England fight back taking the remaining nine wickets for less than 200 and in spite of losing two quick wickets themselves it looked like game-on with a strong batting line up to come. Day three must have had English cricket gambling fans in shock when their side could only just manage to get over the 200 mark before being bowled out, but then there was another twist to this game which may yet prove that gambling on cricket, particularly test match cricket can be scary. Most pundits would have expected New Zealand to ask England to follow-on in these circumstances, but having elected to bat again they immediately contrived to lose three quick wickets themselves and may even have put England back in with a chance. The fascination of gambling on test match cricket is the potential for such swings in fortune over the five days, and this match is clearly no exception. With two days still to play and with England already over 270 runs behind the home side should still be favourites, but a couple of quick wickets in the first session tomorrow and England could still be batting to score less than 400 on the final day to win. Cricket gambling fans will know that the first two games in this series have both been drawn with good second innings performances dragging each side back from a poor position, so who knows what will happen here.