Sunday, May 20th, 2012
The Ashes First Test Odds have Australia as favourites, as they have an excellent record in Brisbane.
For full Ashes First Test Odds click here
England are seen as outsiders for the series by the bookies, even though confidence seems to be high they can at least get the draw required to retain the Ashes.
For more Ashes Series Odds click here
England: 2/1
Australia: 11/10
Draw: 11/4
England go into the game with quiet confidence about them, having looked very solid in the warm up games and knowing they have a fairly solid and settled line up. They are still lookig for the best from Kevin Pietersen, but Graeme Swann has steadily evolved into one of the best spinners there is. The spin department seems to be where England have an edge, as Australia have turned to un-tried spinner Xavier Doherty.
England haven’t won the Ashes down under since 1987 – but to counter that Australia have a fantastic record in Brisbane, having not lost there in the 80′s, when they faced a West Indian side at the peak of their fast bowling powers. It’s usually fast and bouncy, and Mitchell Johnson is promising to take advantage of that by peppering Andrew Strauss with short pitched deliveries.
In the last Ashes series in Australia, the decision to put Australia in proved disastrous and frankly England never recovered. But the sides are closer and of the two attacks you might fancy England to make 20 wickets more so than the Aussies.
Test matches these days rarely seem to end in draws, so perhaps the value bet is England here.
England are 2/1 with Betfred and are a risk worth taking. Just click on the link to place a bet and claim a free one worth up to £50.