Bell to chime for England for once more

Thursday 21st November will see the return of the Ashes just over three months (August 25th) after the event finished. England have had little time to enjoy their series win last time out and must go back and reclaim the bragging rights, can they do so?

Bookmakers make the tourists the 6/5 (CORAL) favourites for the series after winning the last three series to a combined score of 8-2. Despite not playing at their best last summer England still had enough in them to win the series 3-0 and will be confident of success. The Australians are 17/10 (STAN JAMES) for the series and they will take heart from the fact that in just one of the five Tests last summer were they blown away, in fact the end result could have been a lot closer but for the odd moment here and there. I find it hard to come down on either side and if asked think the drawn series at 9/2 (GENERAL) is the best option for those looking outright bets. The danger of rain and bad weather ruining the first test means this could be a great back-to-lay option.

Alastair Cook had a hugely disappointing summer with the bat and he looks an uneasy favourite at 10/3 (sportingbet) to finish as the top England runscorer despite performing so well in Australia on his last visit. The Australians will be confident that they have his number after managing to bowl him LBW in four of his last seven innings.

Jonathan Trott was another who frustrated in the summer and is likely to bat third though does not appeal at 9/2 (BETVICTOR) while Joe Root who will drop to number six in the batting is a 17/2 (YOU WIN) chance. I think Root might score well if given the chance though a few shaky innings early on might see him dropped. Opener michael Carberry could be a hit though lacks the Test experience so 7/1 (GENERAL) looks too risky.

Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell look set it to be the main men then with the former a 7/2 (GENERAL) chance and the latter 5/1 (YOU WIN). Bell put on 562 in the summer and Australia had no answer for him. To put this into perspective the nearest man to him on the England side was KP on 388. Bell seems to have continued the form on in his warm-up games and there is no reason why he can not continue to destroy the Australian bowlers.

Chris Rogers (9/2-GENERAL) and David Warner (5/1-GENERAL) are expected to open the bowling for Australia while the big names of Shane Watson (9/2-GENERAL) and Michael Clarke (5/2-GENERAL) come in third and fourth. George Bailey (9/1-ladbrokes) and Steven Smith (10/1-GENERAL) will complete the batting set up.

Going back to Bell then I think he also has to be backed at 8/1 (ladbrokes/william hill) to be the top batsman from across both teams just like he was in the summer.

The top England bowler market is headed by James Anderson who is a 9/4 (sportingbet) chance ahead of Stuart Broad at 3/1 (YOU WIN) while the top wicket taker in the summer Graeme Swann is 4/1 (TOTESPORT/betfred/STAN JAMES). It is likely to come down to those three as Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett may be rotated depending on the venue. For Australia Ryan Harris was the clear star with the ball in the summer and I see little reason why he will not be the star for them again this winter. Harris has 71 wickets from 16 Tests and 35 wickets in seven matches against England so take the 13/5 (YOU WIN).

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Ian Bell to be top England batsman, 5/1 (YOU WIN)
SILVER: Ian to be top Series batsman, 8/1 (ladbrokes/william hill)
BRONZE: Ryan Harris to be top Australian bowler, 13/5 (YOU WIN)

Go To bet365

#Ad

25/11/2013     © Frixo 2026