Andrew Strauss has spent the past few weeks coolly ignoring Australian insults designed to unnerve England before they embark on their flight to Perth on Friday. Can England win the Ashes down-under?
Despite the time differences William Hill are predicting a massive £15 million will be gambled industry wide on the Ashes 2010/11. Hills are planning on having thirty plus in play markets throughout the tests, compared to eight last time round. Australia are the slight favourites at 8/11 with England offered at 2/1. Despite his woeful form, Kevin Pietersen is 1/20 to start the first test and 4/1 to be the first England player to score a hundred.
“If the Ashes was being played at home, England would be strong favourites and we fully expect a patriotic punt on Strauss’s men in the coming weeks,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
William Hill Ashes: 8/11 Australia, 2/1 England, 9/2 Draw
Players to start in first Ashes test: 1/33 Andrew Strauss; 1/33 Graeme Swann; 1/25 James Anderson; 1/25 Matt Prior; 1/20 Kevin Pietersen; 1/16 Stuart Broad; 1/12 Jonathon Trott; 1/12 Alastair Cook; 1/4 Steven Finn; 2/7 Ian Bell; 4/9 Paul Collingwood; 4/7 Eoin Morgan; 3/1 Tim Bresnan; 5/1 Chris Tremlett; 6/1 Monty Panesar; 8/1 Steve Davis.
Ashes Top England Bat: 7/2 Kevin Pietersen, 7/2 Andrew Strauss, 4/1 J Trott, 6/1 A Cook, 7/1 P Collingwood, 7/1 I Bell, 10/1 Eoin Morgan, 14/1 Matt Prior, 33/1 Steven Davis, 66/1 Graeme Swann, 66/1 Stuart Broad
First England Player To Make A Hundred: 3/1 Strauss, 4/1 Trott, 4/1 Pietersen, 9/2 Cook, 6/1 Bell, 8/1 Collingwood, 12/1 Morgan, 16/1 No England Century, 20/1 Prior, 50/1 Stuart Broad, 66/1 Swann, 100/1 Bresnan
Top England Bowler: 5/4 Swann, 7/2 Broad, 4/1 Anderson, 9/2 Finn, 10/1 Tremlett, 16/1 Tim Bresnan, 20/1 Monty Panesar, 66/1 Collingwood
First England Bowler To Take A Five Wicket Haul: 9/4 Swann, 7/2 Anderson, 9/2 Broadm, 5/1 Finn, 5/1 No Five Wicket Haul, 6/1 Monty Panesar, 8/1 Tremlett, 10/1 Bresnan, 50/1 Collingwood
Ashes Correct Score:
33/1 Australia 1-0; 16/1 Australia 2-0; 7/1 Australia 2-1; 14/1 Australia 3-0; 7/1 Australia 3-1; 10/1 Australia 3-2; 18/1 Australia 4-0; 14/1 Australia 4-1; 16/1 Australia 5-0
80/1 Draw 0-0; 14/1 Draw 1-1; 9/1 Draw 2-2
50/1 England 1-0; 40/1 England 2-0; 10/1 England 2-1; 33/1 England 3-0; 10/1 England 3-1; 16/1 England 3-2; 33/1 England 4-0; 33/1 England 4-1; 40/1 England 5-0
