New Zealand the value bet at Headingley

England are 11/8 to win the second Test at Headingley, which begins on Thursday. New Zealand, needing a win to stay in the series, are a firm second-best at 3/1. Perhaps with an eye on a showery forecast, the draw is narrowly favourite at 5/4, in spite of only two of the past 20 Tests in Leeds resulting in a draw.

England's batsmen are impossible to separate in the Top England Batsman market. Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Graham Thorpe are all 4/1 to score most first-innings runs. Mark Butcher is marginally more tempting at 9/2, and Andy Flintoff 13/2. For punters looking for a value bet, Paul Collingwood - who may play in place of Ashley Giles at the notoriously seamer-friendly Headingley - is 8/1.

New Zealand have warmed up for Headingley with a comprehensive win over Leicestershire. Nine wickets in the match for Daniel Vettori and fifties in both innings for Stephen Fleming are perhaps the most notable performances for punters sizing up the form prior to the second Test. Fleming failed twice at Lord's - but he will back himself to bounce back for the next Test. Fleming is 7/2 favourite to top score for New Zealand in the first innings, but an even more tempting 11/1 in the Man-of-the-Match markets.

New Zealand haven't played at Leeds since 1983 when Lance Cairns found the conditions very much to his liking, as his 10-wicket haul inspired New Zealand to a five-wicket win. Lance's son, Chris, has just two Tests left in his career, and will want to make an impact. He is 17/2 third favourite to be Man of the Match at Headingley, behind Andy Flintoff (15/2) and Steve Harmison (8/1).

bet365 will be issuing more odds as the second Test approaches, and will be betting live in-running throughout.

Also available at bet365 - Euro 2004 odds. The latest...