The first Ashes test match gets underway at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 1^st August the home side start as favourites but we look outside of the match result for a betting interest.

 

 

 

Before we look at the first test in more detail a reminder you can read our outright betting preview here

England come into the series having won the Cricket World World Cup on home turf recently and they now bid to crown a memorable year by regaining the Ashes.

 

The last Ahes series was staged in Australia over 2017/18 and England never got in a blow, crashing to a 4-0 defeat (with 1 other test match drawn).

 

Let's begin with the squads.

 

England have a number of their World Cup stars in their ranks and much could hinge on 2 of those players who have now been given the opportunity to prove themselves in the test match format. In recent times England have struggled with their batting so Jason Roy was handed a debut in a recent test against Ireland. The composition of the batting line up is seemingly still under discussion with Roy either opening or coming in in the middle order. Less of a gamble, assuming he is fully recovered from an excellent showing in the World Cup, is fast bowler Jofra Archer who's raw pace makes him a handful in any format.

 

England (1^st test): Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

 

Australia's strength in depth comes in the fast bowling unit with Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson and Siddle all included in the travelling party. Cameron Bancroft returns to the international fold and Usman Khawaja will need to pass a fitness test if he is to be involved in the first test.

 

Australia: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Patrick Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

 

England Recent Form:

 

England's beat Ireland by 143 runs in a one off test match at Lords last week although they had to recover from a disastrous first innings where they were bowled out for just 85. In January / February this year they went down 2-1 to West Indies in the Caribbean. In November 2018 England completed a 3-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka away from home and earlier that year they drew 1-1 at home to Pakistan and beat a touring India side 4-1.

 

Australia Recent Form:

 

Australia's most recent test match action came at home to Sri Lanka early in 2019 and they won both test matches by wide margins. Just prior to that they hosted India and they lost a 4 match series 2-1 (1 draw). Other results in 2018 saw Australia lose a 2 match series to Pakistan (1-0) in the UAE and they also lost 3-1 in South Africa.

 

The Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham

 

England have a really good recent record in the test match format at Edgbaston. They haven't lost a test match at this venue since the Proteas beat them back in 2008 and since then they have won 6 and drawn 2.In the 2015 Ashes series

 

England won the Birmingham test by 8 wickets, bowling Australia out for 136 and 265.

 

The most recent test at this ground saw England beat India by 31 runs. England made scores of 287 and 180 whilst India posted 274 and 162.

 

Edgbaston Weather Forecast

 

Selected 1^st Test betting Markets:

 

To Win the 1^st Test

 

England even money

Draw 9/2

Australia 15/10

 

Prices are an average of what was available at the time of publication but subject to change.

 

The Verdict:

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see bowlers on top here although my headline selection is in the England top 1^st innings bat market. Skipper Joe Root may not be the most imaginative pick but he did hold England's first innings together in the most recent test at this venue, a low scoring affair against India. Furthermore Root''s price to top score for England in the first innings is the subject of a boost from Sportingbet with 33/10 available rather than 11/4.

For additional interest I'm going to suggest a speculative play in the “hundred to be scored in the match” market where the 15/4 for no century with Hollywoodbets could be worth an interest.

 

Bets:

Top England bat 1^st Innings, Joe Root 33/10 Sportingbet, Claim your 1^st deposit bonus of up to R2,000 here

A hundred to be scored in the match? (no) 15/4 Hollywoodbets