Bet Australia » ashes

The Ashes: 5-0 To Australia!

G Waldorf — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 18:52:40 +0000

If there were scriptwriters for this Ashes series, they were Australian. The series couldn’t have ended in a better way for the hosts. It was a thumping 281-run victory that came on Jane McGrath Day – day 3 at the SCG – after Aussie skipper Michael Clarke held on at second slip. And it was fitting that it was Australia’s bowlers who finally put the tourists out of their misery: it was the bowlers who seized the initiative in Brisbane at the start of the series, and it has been Australia’s bowlers that have been the difference throughout.

The manner of the series victory couldn’t have been more to the liking of the Aussie fans: England have been brushed aside, and left in such disarray that the next Ashes series might already be looking uncomfortably soon for Andy Flower and Alistair Cook. Certainly, they have lots to think about. There were no Englishmen in the top five highest-scoring batsmen for the series, which tells its own tale. The story of Chris Rogers is the story of the Aussie eleven over both these most recent Ashes series: he was no-where in the running at the start of the ten Tests, but he has finished as the man with the most runs beside his name. But make no mistake, it has been Australia’s bowlers who have blown England away: never before have Australia taken all 100 English wickets in an Ashes series.

But enough of the stats – the highlights tell the story by themselves. Both captains and both teams will be looking ahead to the ODIs (the Aussies after they’ve finished celebrating…), and Australia are $1.40 favourites to win that series, too. Look out for another 5-0 result, a $6.00 bet on Sportbet right now. Look out, too, for some value in Mitchell Johnson to be Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the ODIs at $3.75: those odds could get shorter after the first game on the 12th…

For all the latest cricket odds, just follow the link!

The Ashes: The Whitewash Is On!

G Waldorf — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 14:26:44 +0000

The Ashes roadshow comes to Sydney for the fifth and final Test today, and Australian captain Michael Clarke finds himself in a place he might not even have dared to dream about after the tour of England in the winter. The Aussies are on the verge of an incredible – and it has to be said unlikely – 5-0 series victory. Can Clarke’s men manage the final hurdle at the SCG? Or will it be the English who finish a disappointing tour on a high note?

There are a few pieces of business left to attend to in the series, even though the result isn’t in doubt any longer, and the Ashes have already been regained. David Warner is the favourite – at $1.11 to be Australia’s leading run-scorer in the series, and it will take some heavy scoring for either Michael Clarke or Brad Haddin to overtake him: they are both $12.00 bets on Sportsbet right now. In the first innings of the fifth Test, Warner is a $4.50 to register a century, where you’ll get $10.00 for Brad Haddin to reach three figures, and $4.00 for the Aussie skipper. Here’s an interesting bet: the Aussie opening partnership is $1.82 to out-score Cook and Carberry, where you’ll get $1.98 for the English pair to get their act together. We can see that going either way, and there might be value in either opening pair…

And when the dust settles in Sydney, it’s back to the MCG for the start of the ODI series: you’ll get $8.50 for Australia to win that 5-0, too…

For all the latest Ashes odds, just follow the link!

The Ashes: It’s Sydney For The Final Test

G Waldorf — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 21:07:55 +0000

We’ve spoken about the difficult situation England’s captain Alistair Cook finds himself in on this tour to Australia, and his life doesn’t seem to be getting any easier. The last Test in Sydney looms large, and Cook will be wishing he had more time to rally his soundly beaten side for a last effort at the SCG. He hasn’t been helped by some high-profile departures from the English side, of course, but it’s really a chronic lack of form that’s put him and his team in their current predicament, and it’s a loyal fan indeed who can see them fighting their way out of a whitewash.

The betting very much reflects the harsh reality of where Cook and England find themselves: the draw is a shorter bet at $4.25 than an English win at $4.50 – but don’t hold your breath for anything other than another Aussie win: that’s a $1.67 bet on Sportsbet right now…

But there’s lots more on offer, too. Michael Clarke has won every coin toss in the series, and would you bet against it going Australia’s way again in Sydney? It’s a $1.95 bet either way: we’re just looking forward to the look on Cook’s face if he calls wrong yet again! The fourth Test saw England’s batsmen post the higher first-innings total for the first time in the series, but they weren’t able to make anything of it in the game: they’re a $2.53 bet to repeat that first innings lead, which might be better value than the $1.52 you’ll get for Australia to have the lead after both sides have batted once. Elsewhere, are you betting that Mitchell Johnson can follow up an incredible series so far with a Man-of-the-Match performance in Sydney? He’s the favourite to scoop the award at $6.50…

Get all of your latest Ashes odds just by following the link.

The Ashes: Australian Bowlers

G Waldorf — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 20:13:02 +0000

It’s amazing the difference pace makes. If you’ve been watching any of the Ashes coverage, you will have seen at least one analyst’s segment on just how that extra bit of pace on the ball has been affecting the English batsmen. You don’t need to be too technical: the hurry-up has forced them to make bad decisions, and it has swung the momentum of the series all the way towards Australia. That’s how Mitchell Johnson’s pace has affected the top order. The tail has just been blown away in every game – only in the second innings of the Perth Test have the English lower middle order made any sort of meaningful contribution, and that was in a lost cause.

But it’s a simplistic approach to say that it has just been the Midge factor that has put Australia so dramatically on top, and resulted in the Ashes coming back to Australia. The batsmen have to take some credit, of course, but the truth of the matter is that Australia’s bowling attack have hunted as a pack right from the start. Harris has offered real threat every time he’s had the ball in hand, Siddle has made Kevin Pietersen his bunny, Nathan Lyon has taken some vital wickets, and both he and Shane Watson have given Michael Clarke real control when he’s needed it.

But at the moment there’s only one man who’s on course to take the top series wicket-taker plaudits, and that’s Mitchell Johnson – he’s a $1.02 bet to take the biggest haul. But the Boxing Day Test at the MCG offers some interesting bets for the Aussie bowlers: not least of all on that first innings lead that has been so important in the series so far. Australia’s bowlers are a $1.51 bet to restrict the English batsmen to fewer runs that their own batsmen manage. Mitchell Johnson predictably leads the odds for the most wickets in the Test, at $2.75, but there might be value in Ryan Harris at $3.60 and in Peter Siddle at $3.75…

To get all your latest Ashes odds, you only need to follow the link.

The Ashes: Where To Now For England?

G Waldorf — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 20:08:53 +0000

Both captains celebrated their 100th Test appearances at the WACA, but Alistair Cook and Michael Clarke had very different experiences in Perth, and they will go away with starkly contrasting memories. They go away with different problems, too. Clarke heads to Melbourne with all the best problems in the world. With the Ashes regained, Clarke and Darren Lehman face the challenge of keeping their players’ motivation up, and of asking them to maintain the high standards they have reached in the first three Tests.

Alistair Cook, on the other hand, has some serious problems to tackle. The English press have already started the probably-unhelpful but almost inevitable chorus of calls for him and Andy Flower to wield the axe, and there will be senior players who are nervous before the team is announced for the Boxing Day Test. But there are also plenty of pundits questioning the hunger that some England players have for the fight. There were bright spots, though, in the last innings at the WACA, including a maiden Test century for Ben Stokes, and a total that would have kept them in the game if they’d produced it in the first innings. We’re not convinced that there are any Englishmen taking the field in any of these Ashes Tests who aren’t giving it everything, but it’s still hard to see where match-winning performances are coming from.

With all that said, however, the below-par performances of England’s senior players don’t mean that there aren’t some good bets to be had on their performances. In terms of the batting, you’ll see a $3.75 bet for Ian Bell to out-score any other English batsman, but there might still be value in skipper Alistair Cook at $4.50. Then there’s the young guns: both Joe Root and Ben Stokes are at $5.50 to score more runs than any other Englishman over the course of the series. If England are looking to rebuild their side, then there could be good value in the youngsters – they’re the future, and they might be value bets, too…

For all your latest Ashes odds, follow the link!

The Ashes: Australian Batsmen

G Waldorf — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:05:13 +0000

All the focus seems like it has been on the Aussie bowlers in their successful recapturing of the littlest trophy in sport, and if you look at the headlines, then you’d be forgiven for thinking that it has all been about searing pace and steepling bounce. And, in fairness, Mitchell Johnson has been outstanding – and well supported by a strong attack – all the way through the series. But cast your minds back to our initial comments about the series, and the bets you could have had at Sportsbet on which side would have a lead after the first innings. The simple fact has been that in every Test, the English batsmen have been second best, and Australia has enjoyed a lead after each and every first innings.

So the Aussie batsmen might not be getting all the plaudits, but there have been seven centuries shared amongst them, and some wonderful performances. But where are you betting for the top runscorer of the series, and are there any other betting markets on offer? Look at the markets for Australia’s top runscorer: obviously Michael Clarke has set the tone both in leading the side and in accumulating runs for himself – he’s a $3.60 bet to lead the Australian batsmen after the final Test. But he isn’t alone in the race. Brad Haddin must be a good shout for player of the series (he might be good value at $15.00 for that award…), but he’s really put a shift in with the bat this Ashes, and you’ll get $11.00 on him to chalk up the most runs of any Australian. David Warner has batted aggressively, and could make more big contributions, especially if the pressure’s off in the second innings: he’s the favourite for top runscorer at $1.30. But don’t forget about Shane Watson. A muscular century in the third Test will have put him back in contention, and at a $19.00 bet he might represent good value, especially if he can get in and bully a demoralised English pace attack – not to mention a struggling Graeme Swann…

For all the latest Ashes odds, follow the link!

The Ashes Regained!

G Waldorf — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 13:02:14 +0000

What an Ashes series! The little urn is making its way to these shores as we write this, but Australia have been so dominant in the three Tests so far that they will have their sights on a whitewash that seemed pretty unlikely when the tourists first arrived in Australia.

But while it has been a story of revitalised Australian cricket, it’s a pretty sorry tale for England’s fans: they’ve had to watch their batting line-up fail again and again to put up any kind of meaningful resistance. It was all summed up in the second innings in lots of ways. The contrast between the English bowling performance – that saw Shane Watson smash his way back into form and George Bailey dispatch James Anderson for a record-equalling high-scoring over – and the very first ball of England’s second innings, which Ryan Harris nipped away from Alistair Cook to clip the top of the off bail. We talked about the tale of two captains as they came into this series, and in the Test that saw them both compete for the 100th time for their countries, their fortunes couldn’t have been more different. Heading to Melbourne and the next Test, there are some serious challenges facing Alistair Cook and Andy Flower, where Michael Clarke has all the best problems in the world.

So what are the series betting markets looking like now that the urn’s home has been decided? Australia taking the series 5-0 is the likeliest series result, according to the bookies at Sportsbet right now, and a $2.88 bet. If you think the England selectors will wield the axe in the hopes of injecting a bit of fight into their side, and you think that’ll help them, then you might see value in a $3.60 bet for a 4-0 final result. If there are changes in what was a very settled English side coming into the series, then Michael Clarke might get the chance to make a point for the next Ashes clash in 18 months’ time – but will he enforce a follow-on if he gets the chance? With an $8.00 bet on offer for any side to be forced to follow on, we think you might see value there, especially if Alistair Cook finally manages to win a toss! And on that note, if you’re of a mind to bet on the toss, you’ll get $3.60 for both 5-0 to Michael Clarke, or for 3-2…

Whatever you’re betting on, you can get all your latest Ashes odds just by following the link.

The Ashes: The WACA Is Waiting…

G Waldorf — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 01:40:39 +0000

This Ashes series has been sheer theatre so far. Mitchell Johnson has been the star of the show, but he has been ably supported by a cast of heroes in baggy green caps, and the tourists are staring down an all-but impossible task if they are to retain the Ashes. To make matters worse for Alistair Cook and his English side, the next stop in the series is the WACA, and a Perth pitch famous for its pace and bounce. What will concern Cook most is that his key personnel have shown a lack of relish for the battle, to say the least. You expect players to go through times – sometimes painfully long times – when they’re horribly out of form, and we feel for Matt Prior, and were even a little pleased to see him put together some runs in the second innings at Adelaide. But Cook and Flower need their senior players to really stand up in Perth, where the conditions will be most hostile for them, and where the test will be sternest. It will make compelling viewing, and we will definitely be watching.

But where are the good bets to be had now that the series has swung so dramatically Australia’s favour? Going into the Test at the WACA, England are a $3.50 bet to win, where you’ll get $1.66 for the Aussies. It’s usually a result pitch, and usually it’s a win for Australia at the WACA, so maybe think carefully about a bet on the draw at $5.45. We might be tempted at $1.59 by a bet for the Aussies to hold a lead after the first innings, looking at the troubles the English batsmen have had in the series so far, and their struggles to pass the modest 200 milestone. But if you think that stern words and careers on the line have the potential to spark an English resurgence in the unlikely surroundings of the WACA, then England are a $2.32 to score more in the first innings: it’ll need some serious heroics from a top-order batsman, but if you think one of the English stars has it in them to register a potentially-match-winning double century, that’s an $8.00 bet…

For all your latest Ashes odds, all you need to do is follow the link.

The Ashes: Australia On Top

G Waldorf — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 21:15:15 +0000

Aussie fans have high standards. Maybe it’s because of the era we’ve just been through, when Warne, Ponting, McGrath, Hayden and the rest bossed international cricket, turning in incredible performance in game after game. So the past couple of years have been hard. Especially an Ashes tour of England that included precious few highlights: a tour that resulted in a resounding defeat.

So give them their time to rejoice, because Australia’s cricketers are back on top after a second convincing win in an Ashes series. And the Aussie fans will be especially happy about the manner of the win, because the men in baggy greens are meeting their high standards again, and look like taking the series without the English mustering any meaningful resistance…

So what are the odds looking like for the Ashes series? After two Tests that have seen the Aussies dominant, and a fast Perth track next up, England are at a long, long $31.00 to win the series. Just so you know, no English team has overturned a 2-0 deficit to win an Ashes series. Ever. And only one Australian team has done it, way back in the 30s. But maybe there’s some fight left in what looked like a great English side only a season ago? They’re an $8.00 bet to retain the Ashes, which might be better value if you’re looking to place a bet. It’s probably too soon to write off an English team that contains some genuine talent, and if they fire, you might like the look of a $1.81 bet for them to win a Test in the series.

Whatever happens, we certainly won’t be looking away from the Perth Test – and neither should you! For all your latest Ashes odds, just follow the link…

The Ashes: The Second Test

G Waldorf — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 02:38:15 +0000

It’s been a long ten days. Funny, but it didn’t seem like there was such a long gap between Tests when Australia were touring England, and all the momentum was with the hosts. With so much to do between Tests to find a way to win, Michael Clarke must have felt like there just weren’t enough hours before the next coin toss. And now it’s the other way around – Australia would likely have been happy to go to Adelaide and kick off the second Test the morning after the Gabba one finished.

But the wait is over – almost. England’s time to go away and lick their wounds is almost up, and they could easily be in the headlights again by lunchtime on the 5th. We reckon we’re not the only people in Australia looking forward to seeing the Aussie quicks steaming in again…

And the odds will have changed after the result of the first Test, and the manner of Australia’s win. On Sportsbet right now, the odds of Australia regaining the Ashes are $1.57 – much shorter than the $2.50 you would have got before the series, but still tempting for plenty of patriotic cricket fans, we reckon. There might be some good value elsewhere for the series, though, now that it’s set up nicely. A drawn series is a $5.00 bet, but might be good value if you think England can come back into it – and if you think they can do that, are you willing to bet they’ll be leading the series after 3 Tests? You’ll get $6.00 if you are, and a draw after 3 Tests is at $4.50, where Australia holding their lead at the same stage is a $1.36 bet. With all the confidence abounding in the Australia camp at the moment, though, do you fancy a $3.75 bet that the English will go home without winning a Test?

Get all your latest Ashes odds here!