Sports Blog 07/07/2015: Ashes Preview – England, Wednesday July 8th 2015

Having looked at Australia previously now let’s turn our attention to the hosts England and their attempt to regain the Ashes this summer.

After an incredible one day series win over New Zealand confidence is high in English cricket, with the English public once again right behind Alastair Cook’s men. The Kevin Pietersen saga appears to have finally been put to bed, leaving the squad free to concentrate on defeating their fiercest rivals. England are still significant underdogs heading into the series however, with their series index quoted at 40-44 (based on 25 per test won and 10 pts per test drawn). Optimistic England backers are offered 7/2 about an English series win, with Australia quoted at 10-13 over England on the series supremacy. England series runs are quoted at 2875-2975, with their series ton ups pitched at 202-217.

With the task of not only opening the batting but also skippering the side Alastair Cook will be under intense scrutiny and pressure this summer. The Aussies will target the captain as usual, but our traders have some faith in Cook to ride out the storm, pitching his series runs at 380-400. For punters who fancy Cook to get back to his best this summer his series ton ups are available at 50-58. Captain Cook is 3/1 to be England’s top run scorer, and a tempting 8/1 to be the top scorer from either side.



England’s form batsman going into the series is undoubtedly Yorkshire’s Joe Root. Surely an England captain in waiting, Root has matured into a high-class batsman in all formats of the game. Combining deft touch with surprising power Root is 5/2 favourite to be England’s top run scorer, reflecting his status as their premier batsman. Root will likely continue in his number 5 position, sparing him the challenge of facing Australia’s fearsome new ball attack. He should be in a position to play himself in against the older ball, and it is no surprise to see his series runs quote pitched the highest of all the England batsmen at 400-420. Root already has a big Ashes hundred to his name, and his series ton ups for this series are priced up at 49-57.

Fiery all-rounder Ben Stokes was the only England batsman to make a century in the previous series, with a gutsy innings in Perth. Stokes has earned the respect of the Australians, and he will be a key component in England’s side. Stokes series runs are quoted at 290-310, with his series ton ups available at 18-24. Batting in the number 6 spot should suit Stokes’ attacking style, and with plenty of depth to the England order he should not be left stranded with the tail. Stokes is a big price at 10/1 to top score for England in the series, and a juicy 28/1 to top score for either side. Stokes will also provide England with a threat with the ball. Consistently able to bowl in the mid to high 80s mph, Stokes series bowler performance (based on 10 pts per wicket and 25 pts per 5-for) is quoted at 130-140, and for those (like Ian Botham) who fancy Ben Stokes to have a massive influence with both bat and ball his series performance quote (1 pt per run, 10 pts per catch, 20 pts per wicket and 25 pts per stumping) is pitched at 570-590.



England’s strength in depth in the batting order may be an area where they hold the edge on the Australians, and our traders quote England sting in the tail (runs scored by batsmen coming in at 8, 9, 10 and 11 for England) at 425-445. With the likes of Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad lurking down the order this could be an interesting market to monitor. By contrast Australia sting of the tail is on offer at 400-420, one of few markets where our traders expect England to outperform the Baggy Greens.

As ever Jimmy Anderson will be England’s spearhead with the ball. The Lancastrian is now England’s all-time highest test wicket taker, a position richly deserved after a sustained spell as one of the world’s finest swing bowlers. ‘The Burnley Lara’ looked in fine form in the West Indies in the spring and will simply have to fire if England are to have any hope of wrestling back the urn. Anderson’s series bowling index is quoted at 222-232, comfortably the highest of all the England bowling options. This may well be Anderson’s last Ashes series, almost certainly his last at home, so he will be as keen as ever to have the upper hand. With plenty of verbals guaranteed, Anderson will be right at the forefront of England’s challenge.



Much maligned Stuart Broad will share the new ball with Anderson, and it is surely time for Broad to repay the faith shown in him by the England selectors. Capable of dazzling spells, Broad has all too often failed to deliver for England on a consistent basis. Broad’s bowler series index is quoted at 202-212, and he will need to provide strong support to Anderson if England are to gain any control over the talented Aussie batting line-up.

Moeen Ali looks to have staved off the threat of Adil Rashid and kept his place in the side, for now at least. After the brutal dismantling of Graeme Swann in the last Ashes series the Aussies will no doubt look to attack the spinner early and hit him out of the English attack. Ali is up against it, with his bowling being thrust under the microscope now he’s being picked as the specialist spinner. With a series bowler performance quote of just 135-145 it is fair to say that not that much is expected of the Worcestershire man, but if he is able to get a hold over the Australian batsman it could be a decisive factor in the outcome of the series.

With the first test starting on Wednesday morning, and a plethora of markets offered pre-match and in-running, Spreadex is the place to be for all the Ashes action. With just days to go now before the coin goes up in Cardiff it’s time for the talking to stop and let battle between these famous old rivals commence!