A huge test series gets under way on Friday with England v India starting at Headingley. Andy Schooler previews the opening match of a mouthwatering five-test series starting in Leeds on Friday.
England v India 1st Test: Expert Cricket Tips
Venue: Headingley, Leeds, England
Date/Time: Friday June 20, 1100 BST (5 days)
TV: Sky Sports Cricket
England v India: Visitors’ Headingley Bound
Given their strong Headingley record of six wins from their last seven Tests, it’s no surprise to see England odds-on favourites for the opening game of this five-match series. Yet it’s been a very dry 2025 so far in Yorkshire and with temperatures possibly topping 30C during this match, we could well be seeing considerably different conditions than in the past.
Headingley still massively favours the bowlers when there’s cloud cover but when the sun is shining, recent history shows there are runs in this pitch and that has to improve India’s chances. They’ve not won a Test series in England since 2007 but they were 2-1 up on their last visit in 2022 when COVID postponed the final Test which England subsequently won the following summer. It’s also worth pointing out that the toss could play a big part – six of the last seven Headingley Tests have been won by the side fielding first.
England v India: Changing of the Guard
India have not played Test cricket since a 3-1 series loss in Australia either side of Christmas, since when they’ve lost captain Rohit Sharma and legendary batter Virat Kohli to retirement. Shubman Gill takes the captaincy here but he still has plenty of class operators at his disposal, including arguably the best pace bowler in the world in Jasprit Bumrah. Having suffered back problems for some time, he’s unlikely to play in all five Tests but Bumrah will be in the XI here and will be a big threat.
England v India: Bank on Woakes
England’s attack will be led by Chris Woakes but aside from the Warwickshire seamer it’s very inexperienced as this level with the likes of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson and Olly Stone all injured at present. Given all that, I just feel now could be the time to side with India given their price of 2.6. If this new-look side does click, you probably won’t be getting those odds again in the series. Take them now.
In the sub-markets, Woakes looks a worthy favourite to be England’s top bowler. He’s very much the leader of this attack and took 3-60 against India A recently to prove his form. Since his return to the Test team in 2023, he’s taken 51 wickets in 12 Tests at an average of 21.88. His record on home soil is much talked about with one statistic showing how effective he’s been in such conditions, namely that his strike-rate in home Tests is better than England greats Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. In addition, he’s been top bowler in two of his four previous home Tests v India so backing him makes sense.
For those looking at the England top-bat market, it’s worth noting that the averages of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes all drop by double-figures when the ‘only against India’ filter is applied. However, Joe Root’s average climbs from an overall 50.8 to 58.8 against the Indians. On his home ground, he’s the 3.6 favourite. I won’t be getting involved there but there could be a spot of value in the India top batter market.
England v India: Top India Batsman
Unlike many of his touring colleagues, Karun Nair has plenty of experience of English conditions, having played the past two seasons in the County Championship for Northamptonshire. He made a double-ton against England Lions at Canterbury at the start of this tour and will have happy memories of facing England, having hit 303 against them back in 2016. Nair looks likely to have played himself into the middle order (admittedly it’s not certainly he’ll play) and it’s interesting to see that most recent Test centuries at Headingley have come from those middle-order spots.
The last eight Tests in Leeds have seen 12 tons with only two of those produced by members of the top three. With Nair potentially batting at six, he could be worth backing at 5.4. An alternative is to side with him to score over 24.5 runs in the first innings. In form, probably batting against an old ball and an inexperienced bowling attack, this also appeals.
England v India: 1st Test Best Bets
India to win @ 2.6 with kwiff
Woakes England top bowler @ 2.65 with kwiff
Nair India top batter @ 5.4 with kwiff
Nair over 24.5 runs @ 1.8 with kwiff
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