All eyes are starting to turn down under with The Ashes a matter of days away. We have already previewed the series but before the first ball is bowled in Perth on Friday there is just enough time to look at the two top batter markets for the respective sides.
Australia and England are full of batting talent and this is a series where generally the elite thrive and the not so good get found out. It will be interesting to see if that is how this one plays out or whether there is a surprise package that emerges.
Australia
Whenever a market like this is priced up about an Australia team in Test cricket, Steve Smith is always the inevitable favourite and rightly so. He is still one of the best batters in the world game but he will be captaining in at least the first Test which might hinder his preparations and add to the pressure on his shoulders. That could open the door for others to come through with Travis Head a second favourite, Marnus Labuschagne third favourite with Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green and then Jake Weatherald following those in the market.
This is a more competitive market outside of Smith and one of the reasons for that is the doubts over the batting order. The vibes are that Weatherald is going to partner Khawaja at the top of the innings but whether he stays in for five matches remains to be seen. That will move Labuschagne down to three which should suit him much better and he is my pick at 5/1. He is the leading scorer in the Sheffield Shield this season so any talk that his best is behind him looks to be premature. In six innings in the competition he has a 50 and two centuries and is averaging 67 in the competition. Mixed in around that he has a pair of List A centuries in the 50 over tournament so Labuschagne is hitting the ball very well. Labuschagne was second in the run list four years ago and I think he can go one better here.
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England
It is a similar story in the England batter market where Joe Root is an obvious favourite, although unlike in the Australia one he has a challenge for favouritism from the new vice-captain Harry Brook. These are clearly the two class acts in the England side but the mind games have already begun from the host nation with regards to Root and his lack of a century in Australia. Brook looked a million dollars in New Zealand but both of these are going to be targeted by Australia. After those, Ben Duckett is followed by Zak Crawley in the betting with Jamie Smith, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes and Jacob Bethell all double figure prices.
There is part of me that thinks that Pope merits respect at 10/1 after a decent showing in the warm up game but the bounce in Australia doesn’t suit his style. I’m prepared to take on the top two. Root averages 35.68 in Australia, which to be fair were he to match that here then 357 runs might well be enough to top score but he’s plenty short enough, as is Brook who I’m sure will get some cameos but then do something daft or fall into a trap. The bounce is an issue for me with Duckett too so that leaves me with Zak Crawley at an acceptable price. He led the run scoring for England in the last Ashes back home and is tall enough to relish the bounce on offer here. His technique might come into question the longer the series goes on but he has played a couple of Big Bash tournaments so he knows what to expect. I think he’s overpriced given his stature.
Tips
Back M.Labuschagne Top Australia Series Batter for a 2/10 stake at 6.00 with William Hill
Back him here:
Back Z.Crawley Top England Series Batter for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with Sky Bet
