Australia were crowned Test Champions earlier in the week, but the 2023 ICC World Test Final was only a curtain raiser to the main event, the Ashes, kicking off this Friday night from Edgbaston. We have you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the 1st Test below.
The Ashes: 1st Test Betting Tips
Edgbaston, Friday 16th - Tuesday 20th June
Match Preview
The Aussies are on top of the world after their fantastic win in the World Test Championship Final earlier in the week, but they’ll need to be back on top of their game quickly as they’ll have less than a week to prepare for the 1st Test from Edgbaston.
Australia were sent in to bat by the Indians and made them pay, piling on 469 in the first innings on the back of brilliant centuries from Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (121). Head returned to his familiar position at No.5 with David Warner back in the line-up, but could be called upon to open the batting again depending on the performance of the veteran early in the series.
For the moment, though, the top six for the Aussies looks pretty set with Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Green and Carey all locked into their places for Edgbaston. The bowling unit is a little less certain. Skipper Pat Cummins will almost certainly be flanked by Nathan Lyon and fan favourite Scott Boland, who was the pick of the bowlers in the World Test Final. The remaining spot in the line-up will be contested between Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who looks to have proven fitness after missing the game against India through injury.
The English line-up and selection questions mirror that of the Austrlaians. Their top seven looks pretty settled with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley opening, followed by Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, who will reclaim the position behind the stumps from Ben Foakes.
It’s the Poms bowling attack that there will be questions at the selection table ahead of the 1st Test. Paceman Jofra Archer has already been ruled out and now the No.2 ranked Test bowler in the world, Jimmy Anderson, has questions surrounding fitness. Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood and Matthew Potts are the other pacemen in the mix for selection, while Jack Leach will front the duties as spinner.
England Predicted XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Jimmy Anderson
Australia Predicted XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland
Betting Tips
The two sides are level pegging at $2.25 in the betting markets, with the draw paying a healthy $5.50. No rain is forecast for the Edgbaston Test, so I’m happy to rule the draw out at this stage.
It’s been a question that has been asked since Brendan McCullum and the BazBall revolution took over the Test cricket world a few years ago - will it hold up in the pressure of an Ashes series? England have won 10 of their last 12 matches in that time period but this will inevitably be their biggest Test to date.
Until their style of play is proven wrong, I have to side with England, who have completely changed the way Test cricket is played and haven’t lost in England since all the way back in July of 2021. Even with the possibility of Anderson being out of the line-up, I think they have the firepower to to trouble the Australian line-up in home conditions. Back them to win at $2.25.
