Australia and England begin a 5 Test Match Ashes Series in Brisbane in the early hours of Wednesday morning South African time. We take a look at the 1st Test from a betting angle.
Let’s start with a look at the Outright Betting where Australia are currently trading as 1/3 to win the series with the drawn series 15/2 and England priced at 9/2. There are a number of other markets including Correct Score where Australia to win 3-1 is a joint favourite with Australia to win 4-1 at 5/1.
There are also Top Bowler and Top Batsman Markets with Smith a 22/10 favourite to be the Top Batsman amongst both teams and Australian Captain, Cummins 7/2 favourite to be the Top Bowler in the series.
Click here for all of the Ashes Betting Markets
Onto the 1st Test which takes place at the Gabba and there has been a lot of rain in the build-up and although the latest forecast looks a bit better, there is every chance that rain will play a big role in the 1st Test. Pat Cummins will skipper the Australian side and their pace attack which includes Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins should relish the conditions. They haven't played Test cricket for some time and a year ago hosted India losing the 4 match series 2-1.
England are missing Archer and they certainly don’t look as strong as some of the England sides we have seen in recent years. Joe Root will captain the team and Ben Stokes will be looking to make up for the fact that he missed the last Ashes Tour to Australia.
England’s recent Test form hasn’t been great and they lost a home series 2-1 with 1 match drawn to India back in September and before that they had also lost a 2 match series 1-0 to New Zealand.
These sides met in England in the Ashes in 2019 with the 5 match series drawn 2-2 and in 2018, Australia were too strong beating England 4-0 with 1 draw.
1st ASHES TEST BETTING* – Click here to bet
Australia 1/1
Draw 2/1
England 8/12
*Note there could be significant movement in the betting as the weather forecast changes
SELECTIONS:
Top England Batsman, Malan at 5/1
This bet is for the 1st Innings of the 1st Test and Malan has proved himself in Australian conditions before and while the captain, Root is a worthy favourite, Malan offers good value at more than 3 times the price.
Top Australian Batsman, Labuschagne at 11/4
This man is an absolute run-making machine and while vice-captain, Steve Smith is the market favourite and obvious danger, I am looking or more runs from Labuschagne who has also been in form in local competitions.
Top Australian Bowler 1st Innings, Hazlewood at 3/1
Hazlewood has impressed me of late and looks in cracking form and I expect the Australian paceman to cause all sorts of trouble for England in favourable conditions. Hazlewood to come out of the blocks firing is my call.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
