Cricket betting tips: Best bets for England vs Sri Lanka and South Africa vs Australia
International cricket moves to ODI mode this week, with England taking on Sri Lanka in Durham before South Africa and Australia get their series underway in Durban.
Here, Sports News Blitz cricket betting expert Himanshu Sharma breaks down the best bets, value plays, and key betting angles ahead of this week’s action.
England vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI
Date and time: Tuesday, September 22 at 12:30 BST
Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
England completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Sri Lanka and now switch to the 50-over format.
England's white-ball momentum makes them difficult to oppose at home, although the longer format should give Sri Lanka more time to settle and make better use of their resources.
England are 1.10 favourites, with Sri Lanka available at 6.25.
Joe Root remains one of the most reliable ODI run-scorers around, and his record in 2026 makes him a safer option for the top England batter.
However, better value lies in Tom Banton.
Named to open the batting, he is available at 8.00 to be England's top run-scorer, which looks an interesting price given his position at the top of the order.
For the tourists, Pathum Nissanka is one of their most consistent batters and tends to be more prolific when batting first.
Wanindu Hasaranga also remains a major threat with the ball, particularly if England's aggressive batters give him opportunities to attack.
Jofra Archer is the standout England bowling option. His pace and variety give him a strong chance of making an impact against an underperforming Sri Lankan top order.
Best bets
Match winner: England
Top England batter: Joe Root
Top England bowler: Jofra Archer
Top Sri Lanka batter: Pathum Nissanka
Top Sri Lanka bowler: Wanindu Hasaranga
South Africa vs Australia, 1st ODI
Date and time: Thursday, September 24 at 9:00 AM BST
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
South Africa and Australia begin a three-match ODI series, with both sides naming strong squads as preparations for next year's World Cup start to take shape.
Australia are the favourites at 1.65, but the price on South Africa at 2.20 is appealing enough to make the hosts an interesting value angle.
Kingsmead has traditionally offered plenty for aggressive batting, and South Africa posted more than 300 in their most recent ODI at the venue.
That makes the batting markets particularly interesting, with both teams possessing enough firepower to put together a sizeable total if conditions remain favourable.
Steve Smith is the obvious class act in Australia's batting line-up, while Quinton de Kock provides South Africa with a reliable option at the top of the order.
Mitchell Starc remains Australia's biggest threat with the ball.
The left-armer's pace and ability to find movement with the new ball make him a natural wicket-taking option, while Marco Jansen offers South Africa a similar combination of height, pace and bounce.
Best bets
Match winner: Australia
Top Australia batter: Steve Smith
Top South Africa batter: Quinton de Kock
Top Australia bowler: Mitchell Starc
Top South Africa bowler: Marco Jansen
READ NEXT ON SPORT JUST SPORT: Cricket news: Harry Brook bursting with pride as England seal 3-0 T20 series win over Sri Lanka
