The looming 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s, a white-shirted Carabao Cup appearance for Eddie Nketiah and the ongoing Cincinnati Open all feature in our Spread Bets of the Day!

1. The Ashes 2nd Test – Steve Smith Runs, 67-74
It was all going so well. England came out of the 1st innings ahead by 90 runs, a total that would have been higher if it weren’t for the returning Steve Smith. Yet the World Cup winners collapsed in the 2nd innings, another stonker from Smith, followed by a humiliating session at the crease from Joe Root et al., allowing the Aussies a massive 251 runs victory.

If England are to turn things around at Lord’s, then they need to come up with a way of neutering Smith. The 30-year old was remarkably consistent at Edgbaston, getting 144 and 142 in the respective innings, and will fancy his chances at a 2nd Test Runs spread of 67-74.


2. Salford City vs Leeds – Eddie Nketiah SMM, 43-50
On loan from Arsenal after an excellent pre-season, Eddie Nketiah will make his debut for Leeds at Moor Lane as the Championship favourites take on Salford City in the 1st round of the Carabao Cup.

Expectations are high: the 20-year old lad from Lewisham sits at a SMM spread of 43-50, the same as his new teammate Patrick Bamford and ahead of Pablo Hernandez at 28-33.


3. Gloucestershire vs Hampshire – 1st 6 Supremacy (Glo/Ham), -1-1
Neither Gloucestershire nor Hampshire have had the best Vitality Blast so far, both picking up just 3 wins apiece (the former in 9 games, the latter in 8). That makes it had to call who is going to start strongest, leading Spreadex to offer a choice 1st 6 Overs Supremacy (Glo/Ham) spread of -1-1.


4. Novak Djokovic vs Sam Querrey – Djokovic 2-1, 16.6-25
Entering in the 2nd round, Novak Djokovic begins his Cincinnati Open defence against Sam Querrey. It seems very unlikely that the American will be able to beat the 2019 Australian Open and Wimbledon champ. However, he could push him to 3 sets; Spreadex are offering a Djokovic 2-1 binary spread of 16.6-25.


5. Kiki Bertens vs Venus Williams – Kiki Bertens Outright Index, 9.5-12.5
Joint with Ashleigh Barty, Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova for most WTA tour finals in 2019, Kiki Bertens will be looking to add a 5th in Cincinnati. To do so she must bypass Venus Williams in the 2nd round, with the Dutch 27-year old at a Match Supremacy spread of 5.5-8.5. More interesting, perhaps, is her Outright Index spread of 9.5-12.5, where the winner gets 60 points, runner-up 40, losing semi-finalists 10 etc.

Disclaimer: quoted prices are subject to change.