ENGLAND versus Sri Lanka betting this summer promises to be divided along Test and one-day fixtures.

However, without the legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan in their ranks, do the Sri Lankans have the guile to take 20 English Test wickets? Indeed, with the fixtures taking place in the early part of the 2011 summer, most tips are predicting that England will continue their impressive recent Test match record.

The county championship cricket season starts on April 8, a date likely to prompt intense betting interest based upon whether Nottinghamshire can continue their success of 2010 with another Division 1 victory.

The midlands county topped the standings after achieving positive results throughout the season which culminated with a nail-biting draw against Lancashire, achieved during the final hour of the season’s last fixtures. Nevertheless, it proved enough for them to top the division.

WILL it be the brilliance of Pakistan or the determination of New Zealand that wins the day in the first Test match?

Betting on Pakistan is a risky business, not least because their results in recent years highlight how inconsistent this team has been.

But if the problems which have plagued this team and resulted in them plunging down cricket’s world standings are finally over, then before punters elect to make their final bet, the odds on them triumphing in New Zealand should be worth investigating.

THE modern-day powerhouses of world cricket square up in Cape Town in January for the Third Test. South Africa and India are writing their own slice of history and the odds are this could develop into a classic series.

Results between the teams have traditionally favoured the home side. However, the low, slow pitches of South Africa should give an advantage to India’s spin attack, although the Proteas’ strength is in their pace bowling.