Morgan v Australia III
Whether England supporters are upset that their team is relying on another natualised cricketer is sure to divide opinion, but the only thought on Sporting Index spread punters' minds is how many runs is Eoin Morgan going to make against Australia on Sunday? The Irish-born big hitter gave the Aussies the runaround at the Rose Bowl in the first of this five match series and his unbeaten 103 meant that buyers of his runs spread were smiling as broadly as the home fans at the Southampton ground.
Spread punters expecting him to administer another brutal bashing will be snapping up his runs spread again. They will say that his haul was no one-off - he hit another ton, also better than at a run a ball, against Bangladesh in Dhaka. He has also recorded a further three half-centuries in 20 matches for his adopted country and hit five 50s and an ODI best of 115 when playing for Ireland between 2006 and 2009. Spread buyers in this market and those buying his performance spread where runs also count towards the total will be keen to know that he has now notched 306 from five ODI innings during this calendar year. His spread buyers will be further encouraged that he has managed all this with a positive strike rate, having faced just 293 balls.
Spread sellers in any of Morgan's individual markets will likely be wondering how much time this middle order batsman is going to get at the crease. Openers Andrew Strauss and Craig Kieswetter didn't hang around too long during the opening clash against Australia, though, with skipper Strauss' 10 runs a big disappointment to his runs and performance spread buyers.
Australia's total was also lifted significantly by one man's not out knock. Thanks to vice captain Michael Clarke registering 87, buyers of match 50-ups were rewarded by his and Morgan's displays. Buyers in this spread market will again be looking for as many men from both teams to record scores in excess of 50. The total sixes spread is a different market where spread punters are looking for an attacking display from both outfits. However, despite the big totals from Morgan and Clarke on Tuesday, neither cleared the ropes and the ball was only hit into the Hampshire crowd twice meaning spread sellers were the happier at the end of game one.
England's recent ODI history at Old Trafford has left Three Lions followers tearing their hair out. Spread sellers of their win index have been consistently rewarded when the team has played here. The three wicket defeat of India in August 2007 was their first victory at the ground since the summer of 2000. Spread buyers of England's supremacy will, though, note that it wasn't always this way. Old Trafford was the scene of eight one day wins in nine fixtures. However, spread sellers of England's supremacy will note that it was Australia that interrupted that run and, perhaps more tellingly, that the Baggy Green have won all of the previous four ODI games they have played at the Manchester stadium.
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