TAB punters seem to be siding with England ahead of the First Test tomorrow night in Edgbaston as they hold most of the money wagered on the Ashes winner market.
Throw the trophies and accolades to the side – simply playing for pride can often be sport’s most powerful motivator.
Stripped of its World Cup title by its oldest enemy and having not won a Test series in England since 2001, Australia has multiple scores to settle at this year’s Ashes, which starts tomorrow night at 8pm AEST.
TAB customers weren’t deterred with England’s performance against Ireland as they won their only Test on Day 3 by 143 runs after making only 85 runs in the first innings. On the back of this England firmed from $2 to $1.90 with TAB to win the Ashes on home soil.
TAB ODDS
Ashes First Test
$1.95 England
$6.50 Draw
$2.40 Australia
Ashes Series Result
$1.90 England
$7.50 Draw
$2.40 Australia
Regain or Retain Ashes
$1.90 England regain Ashes
$1.90 Australia retain Ashes
Player of the series
$7 Joe Root (ENG)
$7 Steve Smith (AUS)
$8 James Anderson (ENG)
$9 Ben Stokes (ENG)
$11 David Warner (AUS)
$11 Pat Cummins (AUS)
$13 Mitchell Starc (AUS)
$15 Jofra Archer (ENG)
$15 Stuart Broad (ENG)
$17 Usman Khawaja (AUS)
$17 Josh Hazelwood (AUS)
$17 James Pattison (AUS)
$21 Jonny Bairstow (ENG)
$21 Jos Buttler (ENG)
$26 Jason Roy (ENG)
$26 Rory Burns (ENG)
$26 Chris Woakes (ENG)
$26 Sam Curran (ENG)
$26 Cameron Bancroft (AUS)
$31 Quote others
High bat (First Innings)
Australia
$3.50 Steve Smith
$3.75 David Warner
$5.50 Usman Khawaja
$5.50 Cameron Bancroft
$6.50 Marcus Harris
$8 Travis head
$9 Marnus Labuschagne
$10 Matthew Wade
$13 Quote others
England
$3.75 Joe Root
$5 Ben Stokes
$6 Jason Roy
$6 Rory Burns
$6 Jonny Bairstow
$7.50 Joe Denly
$8 Jos Buttler
$11 Quote others
Most wickets (First Innings)
Australia
$3 Pat Cummins
$3.50 Mitchell Starc
$3.50 Josh Hazlewood
$3.50 James Pattinson
$5 Peter Siddle
$5.50 Michael Nesser
$5.50 Nathan Lyon
$8 Quote others
England
$3.25 Jimmy Anderson
$3.50 Jofra Archer
$4.25 Chris Woakes
$4.25 Stuart Broad
$4.50 Sam Curran
$5 Olly Stone
$6 Ben Stokes
$8 Quote others