Steven Finn has already returned home and Jake Ball is unlikely to be fit for the First Test in Australia. Moeen Ali has been suffering from a side strain but England will not one to lose their best remaining all-rounder from an already depleted squad.
However, England’s biggest blows in their fight to retain the Ashes were allegedly thrown outside a Bristol nightclub in September when the red mist apparently descended on Ben Stokes. Stokes’ actions that night are still to be determined in law but the incident has cost him his Ashes place, the vice-captaincy and any real chance that has side have of pulling off an upset Down Under.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting is predicting that Australia will win the Ashes series 4-0. The Aussies are claiming that this is the worst England batting line-up of modern times with too much resting on the young shoulders of captain Joe Root. The hosts always target the opposition captain so the Yorkshireman will be getting plenty of leather around the ears from pace bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. England have not been great on the road in recent Test series and have a terrible record when defending the Ashes in Australia. But maybe the Australians should look in the mirror before bad-mouthing the opposition. They’ve had some awful results lately themselves and their own batting line-up looks equally as brittle. But who are the England batsmen capable of standing up to be counted and what are their odds?
Top England Batsman Betting
- JOE ROOT – the England captain is only a best 7/4 with BetVictor to be Top England Batsmen in the Ashes series but he’s the one world-class batsman still at the peak of his powers and is comfortable against both pace and spin.
- ALASTAIR COOK – can be backed at 3/1. Is he as good as he was against really quick bowling, however?
- JONNY BAIRSTOW – is 7/1 with Marathonbet and probably the world’s best wicketkeeper/batsman but dual role could take its toll in a tough series.
- MARK STONEMAN – has found some form in Australia but still has a lot to prove as an international opener and is a general 7/1.
- JAMES VINCE – has been given a second chance but it’s probably more out of desperation that expectation and he is available at 11/1.
- DAWID MALAN – has been around the county circuit for a long time but opinions are divided about whether he is any kind of long-term solution to the troublesome number five spot, though is a battler. Can be backed at a general 12/1.
- GARY BALLANCE – like Vince, in the last-chance saloon regarding his England career. Australia is not normally the place to find yourself and the Yorkshire captain is 20/1 in the betting.
Top England Bowler Best Odds
The Top Bowler betting really concerns only four as far as England are concerned:
- JIMMY ANDERSON – the new vice-captain will be aiming to break more records in Australia this year but the hard pitches have never really suited his game and the general 7/4 is unappealing.
- STUART BROAD – (a general 11/4) has had some brushes with the Aussies down the years so is likely to face some crowd hostility. Has the height to utilise the pitches but can’t sustain his pace for long spells.
- CHRIS WOAKES – has had fitness issues but a pretty reliable wicket-taker under most conditions when fully fit. At a general 7/2, he could outshine his more senior team-mates with the ball.
- MOEEN ALI – is a key man on wearing pitches but will find an Ashes tour a hard slog and generally performs much better in front of English fans. Ali can be backed at 6/1.
England can be backed at 2/1 to retain the Ashes with Coral.
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