The online bookie totesport may weel regret offering what now looks like a best bet odds when they went 11/4 for the Indians to win their last two matches against England at the Oval and Lords and thus win the series 4-3 and those odds look generous now.

After their thrilling 2 wicket victory on Wednesday India now look a fair bet to take advantage of England’s problems and snatch the NatWest Series one-day series.

The touristsl have a renewed optimism after winning at Headingley last Sunday and England, having established a 3-1 lead in the seven-match series, suddenly look vulnerable. Andrew Flintoff continues to be troubled by ankle problems, while fellow all-rounder Ravi Bopara is definitely out with a broken thumb. Chris Tremlett will also be absent with a foot problem.

On top of that, the dynamic Kevin Pietersen is suffering a rare blip in form - his past four contributions have been 25, 9, 18, 0 and a 50odd but a poor error of judgement in running himself out and Alastair Cook is playing himself out of form.

By contrast, India’s leading batsmen will go to Lords in good heart, with their top order in great form. It is all set up for Sachin Tendulkar, in particular, has been in excellent form - averaging 50 in the first five fixtures of the series. He is 7-2 with Coral to be India’s top runscorer at the Lords and the stage is set for possibly his last match at the famous St Johns Wood ground and a 100 is very possibe having got out in the ninties more times than not this summer.