Betting guide: West Indies v England

With the credit crunch biting hard and the arctic blast turning the commute to work into a painful game of walk the tube map, it's hard to refrain from aiming a few envious glances in the direction of the England cricket team.

As they sun themselves in the Caribbean heat ahead of today's first Test in Jamaica contemplating how to best spend the IPL cash that is soon to boost their bank accounts, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen can lay decent claims to possessing the best jobs on earth right now.

But cricketing karma could be about to strike in that old West Indian wall of defiance Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

While he might adopt the sort of unorthodox technique which would have prompted my coach to crack me just below the knees with a stump, Chanderpaul is finally enjoying the recognition he deserves.

The 34-year-old from Guyana was named the International Cricket Council's Cricketer of the Year for 2008, despite being part of a Windies side which won just a single Test.

His record against the Three Lions makes for grim reading if you are an England bowler, too. In his last two series against England, the left-hander has averaged 72.83 and an astonishing 148.67.

With Flintoff's side strain meaning he is unlikely to be firing on all cylinders, if he's even selected, and the rest of England's attack failing to inspire during the two warm-up games, Chanderpaul looks booked for a long stay at the crease.

Recommended Bet: S Chanderpaul 1st Test top West Indies Batsman 11-4