Australia vs England Preview

Australia host England in one of the most hotly-anticipated Ashes Series in recent years – but not for all the right reasons. Neither side is at their strongest with England’s touring party labelled the ‘Un-nameables’, while Australia have recalled Tim Paine to keep wicket after a seven-year hiatus, when he doesn’t even keep for his state side. England will be heavily reliant on the experienced old heads in Alastair Cook, James Anderson and Joe Root, while Australia have Steve Smith and a pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. As we compare odds on cricket and in particular the first Test, it will be intriguing to see if England can upset the odds and grab a series lead in the best of five match battle.

Australia vs England Prediction

As we look at the first Test betting tips in more detail, our betting tips suggest that Australia will live up to their billing as favourites for the series by taking victory in the first match and a 1-0 lead with it. Australia are ranked two places below England in fifth, but seemingly had a more settled team heading into this series, before dropping no fewer than six of the side that won their last Test match against Bangladesh. Both sides have made surprising selections with James Vince and Tim Paine both getting a respective call-up that left many pundits confused. The first Test will be key to how the rest of the series pans out and England have had two positive warm-up matches, albeit against sub-standard opposition. Only time will tell whether that is enough preparation for what is going to be Joe Root’s biggest test as captain to date.

Australia vs England Betting Tips

With England struggling for form in their top-order and without Ben Stokes due to off the field matters, Australia look primed to pounce on the opportunity to compound the woes of their oldest rivals. Looking at the first test odds in more detail, Australia come into the series off the back of a 1-1 draw with Bangladesh, while England had series wins over South Africa and West Indies in the build-up. All that considered, Australia will start the series as favourites to regain the urn and look to be brilliant value at 3/4 to win the first Test with bookmakers Unibet, while also being 2/5 with the same bookmaker to win the series outright.

The Australian captain came into the side as a unpredictable flaxen-haired leg-spinner, somewhat reminiscent of the legendary Shane Warne. After dealing with the pressure of the comparison between him and Warne, Smith decided instead to embrace it, and while not setting the world alight with the ball, has become one of the leading batsmen across the world game. Averaging just under 60 in 56 matches is an incredible feat and his conversion rate of 20 centuries and 21 half-centuries is nothing short of exemplary. His record against England is not to be laughed at either with an average of 43 and five centuries in 18 matches against the old enemy. Combine that with the fact he has score 701 runs in just seven matches in 2017 and he represents amazing value to be his side’s top-scoring batsman at 5/2 with Betway. The fortune of Smith in this series will go a long way to deciding the fate of the 2017/18 Ashes series.