Top 3 bets for tonight's World Darts, 2nd Ashes Test & football

When does the World Darts Championship start?

Let’s Play Darts! The highlight of the darting year gets underway at Ally Pally tonight, culminating on January 3^rd when someone will lift the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy. World number 1 and top seed Gerwyn Price is in action tonight as he starts the defence of the title he won last year behind closed doors. Price plays in the second round in the final game of the night, taking on the winner of the first game, Ritchie Edhouse v Peter Hudson. Former champ Adrian Lewis is also in action, playing Matt Campbell in the penultimate match.

Johnny Clayton Outright Index (14-17)

While Gerwyn Price has undoubtedly been the best player over the past year or so and is rightly favourite to win the worlds, Jonny Clayton has quietly progressed up the rankings and put together some impressive results, including winning the Premier League at the first attempt. He is close pals with Price, and they’ve already had some great battles. They’re in the same quarter of the draw, which of course could mean Clayton goes out earlier than if he’d avoided Price until later in the tournament, but if he can get past his fellow Welshman, there may be no stopping him. The Outright Index awards points depending how far the player gets in the tournament, with 60 points for 1^st, 40 for 2^nd, 20 for a semi-final defeat, 10 for a quarter-final and 5 for losing in the last 16.

When does the 2^nd Ashes Test start?

At 4am tomorrow morning the England cricket team will take to the Adelaide Oval knowing that a good start is imperative if this Ashes Series isn’t going to be over before it’s begun. Joe Root’s side were thrashed by nine wickets at the Gabba, and need to improve in every department in the 2^nd Test or the series will get away from them. Fast bowler Mark Wood is rested and England’s two greatest wicket takers of all time, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, come back into the 12. Spinner Jack Leach, who went for 102 runs in 13 overs at the Gabba, is left out too.

James Anderson 2^nd Test Bowler Performance (43-48)

England’s greatest bowler was left kicking his heels on the sidelines as his team were outclassed in the 1^st Test, rested because of the busy schedule with games coming thick and fast. While he’s said the right things about being left out, Anderson will be desperate to show he’s still at the top of his game, even at the age of 39 and with 632 Test wickets to his name. He took 5-43 under the lights here in 2018 and will look for a repeat in another day/nighter. The Bowler Performance market awards 10 points per wicket taken with 25 bonus points for a five-wicket haul. Has the king of swing got one more five-fer on Australian soil in him on his final Ashes Tour?

Which is the pick of the Premier League matches?

Arsenal face West Ham in a London derby that has extra emphasis given both have designs on sneaking that 4^th place finish in the Premier League and with it Champions League football for next season. The Hammers are currently in that coveted 4^th spot, with Manchester United a point behind and the Gunners a further point behind them. They have been picking up points against the teams above them but throwing them away in games they’d expect to win, their two wins in the last six games coming against Liverpool and Chelsea, while they’ve lost against Wolves and drawn with Brighton and Burnley. Arsenal have done it the more traditional way, losing to Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton, but beating Villa, Leicester, Watford, Newcastle and Southampton over the past eight games. Arsenal have won three and drawn one of the last four games between these two sides, winning 2-1 at the Emirates last season thanks to a late winner from substitute Eddie Nketiah.

Michail Antonio Anytime Scorer (boosted to 11/5)

Antonio started the season on fire but has struggled to find the net in recent games, his only goals since October coming for his international side Jamaica. However, the Hammers midfield create s a lot of chances and it’s surely only a matter of time until he’s back among the goals. Can the converted striker make the Spreadex traders pay for boosting his odds to score at anytime?