Young Lions Waiting In the Wings

After an embarrassing whitewash in the Test arena, what hope do England have in the shorter formats against a Pakistan side who in recent years have been much stronger in the quicker editions of the game? After the poor performances from the English batsmen, there's a raft of younger talent who have been playing well for the England Lions in Sri Lanka who will all be clamouring for a place in the first team.

England are now 5/2 to win the five match ODI series against Pakistan which begins next Monday in Abu Dhabi. Their price has obviously drifted after the Test debacle while Pakistan's price has been cut to reflect their dominance and the home team, of sorts, can now be backed at 6/5 to win the ODI series.

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England will make a raft of changes for the ODI series with a number of players from the England Lions squad that have done well in Sri Lanka recently expected to join the senior squad. Craig Kieswetter is a guaranteed addition while Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow are pushing for a place. With spinners being so successful so far in the Middle East, young Hampshire spinner Danny Briggs could also be in line for a call up. England Lions play England in a match on Friday and the young players in the Lions team will be out to stake their claim on senior selection.

The poor showing against Pakistan has also pushed England's price for the 2013 Ashes out slightly to 4/7. The series will be played on English soil giving the home team a big advantage but StanJames are no longer as confident that they can repeat the heroics of 2005, 2009 and 2010/11. Australia are 11/4 to reclaim the cherished urn

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