England’s ‘next ODI captain’ can halt Ashes meltdown
Published:Alastair Cook gave a clear indication over the weekend that he will step down as ODI skipper, which has seen the odds on the Essex man not leading England into the 2015 World Cup slashed to 1/10.
Cook’s assertion that ‘England cricket needs a bit of a change’ and that he expected them to be made has been taken as a tacit admission that the 29-year-old will shortly step down from his limited-overs role.
The runners and riders to replace Cook include Twenty20 skipper Stuart Broad at 3/1 and Yorkshire youngster Joe Root, who has been touted as a future leader of the Test team, at 25/1.
However, Eoin Morgan is the clear 1/3 favourite after the Irishman impressed when deputising for Cook against the country of his birth and Australia last summer.
Morgan’s excellent showing in this series – he’s hit one century and two fifties in three innings so far – has enhanced his captaincy claims considerably.
The tourists will need some more magic from the Dubliner if they are to stop another Aussie whitewash, with Michael Clarke’s side priced up at 5/6 for a 5-0 win.
It’s difficult to see England turning around their woeful form in time to win the last two matches and finish the series 3-2 down at 8/1 odds, especially considering their poor record against Australia in Perth.
They last beat the Baggy Green in any form of the game at the WACA back in 1987 and the hosts are 2/5 to make it 4-0 on the west coast, but England have fared better in Adelaide recently, claiming Tests and ODI wins at the Oval in 2010/11.
The crushing one-wicket loss in Brisbane looked to have knocked the stuffing out of Cook and co, but if coming-man Morgan can replicate his cracking knock at the Gabba then 11/8 about the visitors ‘only’ losing 4-1 could prove a tasty patriotic punt.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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