Edgbaston, Brimingham is the venue for the first Ashes test match between England and Australia, the game gets under way on Friday and we take a look at the squads, form and a number of options available to punters.
The Ashes will be decided over the course of 5 test matches and we begin with the teams news.
England: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Moeen Ali
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
Recent Form:
England
England beat Ireland by 10 wickets in a one off test at the start of this month. In February they drew 1-1 in New Zealand, winning the first test by 267 runs and losing the second, a thriller, by 1 run.
In December last year England won all 3 test matches in Pakistan and in their last home series they came from behind to beat the Proteas 2-1.
Going further back England have won 11 and lost 2 of their last 13 test matches.
Australia
Australia have just been crowned World Test Champions. They beat India at The Oval in London by 209 runs, scoring 469 in their first knock (Travis Head 163, Steve Smith 121) and 270/8 declared in their second innings (Alex Carey 66, Mitchell Starc 41). India posted totals of 296 (Pat Cummins 3-83) and 234 (Nathan Lyon 4-41).
Australia were in India for a 4 match series in February and March this year and they were beaten 2-1, losing the first 2 tests (an innings and 132 runs and then 6 wickets), winning the third (by 9 wickets) and the fourth match was drawn.
Australia won a 3 match series at home to South Africa over Xmas and new year. They won the first contest by 6 wickets and the second by an innings and 182 runs before the third and final test was drawn.
Recent Ashes Series
In Australia in 2021/22 England lost 4-0 (1 draw)
In England in 2019 a 5 match series was drawn 2-2 and Australia retained the urn.
In Australia in 2017/18 England lost 4-0 (1 draw)
The Venue, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Over the course of the last decade England have won 5 and lost 2 of 7 test matches in Birmingham.
Two of those matches were Ashes tests with England winning by 8 wickets in 2015 and Australia won by 251 runs in 2019
The most recent test match at Edgbaston came against India in July last year and England won by 7 wickets. India posted 416 batting first (Anderson 5 wickets) and England replied with 284 (Bairstow 106). India made 245 in their second knock (Stokes 4 wickets) but England made 373/3 in the final innings with Joe Root (142) and Bairtsow (114) both unbeaten at the end of a heroic chase.
Series Betting - Risk Free First Bet Up to R2,000 back if you don't win
Australia are 9/10 to win the series with a tie at 6/1 and England are a 14/10 chance
A 3-2 series win for Australia is priced at 9/2 and it's 5/1 for England to edge it 3-2
Pat Cummins is 3/1 favourite in the top series wicket taker market and Steve Smith is 5/2 to be top series run scorer with Joe Root an 11/4 chance.
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
1st Test Betting Risk Free First Bet Up to R2,000 back if you don't win
England are 5/4 to win the first test with a draw at 4/1 and Australia are also 5/4
Root is 11/4 to top score for England in the first innings and Steve Smith is 9/4 to do likewise for Australia.
The Verdict
This should be a cracking series and heading into the first test I'm open minded about the outcome.
I'll chance my arm with Harry Brook to top score for England in the first innings and Marnus Labuschagne to be top first innings bat for Australia.
For a long term interest, I will nibble at 2-2
Bets: Top England 1st Innings Run Scorer Harry Brook at 5/1 with Sportingbet
Top Australia 1st Innings Run Scorer Marnus Labuschagne at 3/1 with Sportingbet
Series Correct score 2-2 at 6/1 with Sportingbet
Please support Goodforthegame by opening an account with Sportingbet. Risk Free First Bet Up to R2,000 back if you don't win
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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