Australian Cricket: Top five outright Ashes tips

The Ashes series in England is fast approaching, when Australia will be looking to retain the Ashes at the very least.

It looks all set up to be a very exciting series, with little separating the two sides, but Australia are priced at 1.95 to win the series outright.  

England can be backed at 2.60, while the draw is available at 6.50. But with so much quality in both sides, there are plenty of other betting markets to get involved in ahead of the 2023 Ashes Series. 

Let’s take a closer look at the top five.

Top Batter 

Steve Smith is priced at 3.50 to finish the Ashes as the Top Batter and he looks to be in great touch with the series fast approaching.  

Smith was at his best in the first innings of the Test match against India when scoring 121 runs, and was part of a stunning partnership with Travis Head, who smashed 163 runs off just 174 deliveries. 

It is not the first time that Head has stepped up to the plate in the Aussie middle-order and he is priced at 15.00 to finish the series as the Top Batter. 

Marnus Labuschagne was not at his best against India with scores of 26 and 41 respectively but is expected to impress in the Ashes and is priced at 7.00.

Top Bowler 

Australia boast a fearsome pace attack that will be backed up by the spin bowling of Nathan Lyon. Aussie skipper Pat Cummins is warming up nicely for the Ashes as he took 3-83 off 20 overs in the first innings against India. 

He is priced at 5.00 to be the Top Bowler in the Ashes series, but there are plenty more candidates for that honour. 

Lyon, who has almost 500 Test wickets to his name, is sure to be a huge threat during the Ashes, and can be backed at 5.50.  

If Josh Hazlewood is missing through injury, then Scott Boland could be a dark horse at 10.00.

To retain the Ashes 

Australia are priced at 1.50 to retain the Ashes, just like they did the last time the two sides clashed on English soil.  

The 2019 series in England was gripping to say the least and ended level at 2-2, with the home side winning the final Test. 

However, it was still enough for Australia to retain the Ashes and they will fancy their chances of drawing the series at the very least. Australia are priced at 2.60 to not retain the Ashes.

Player of the series 

Steve Smith was named player of the series in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 so it is no surprise that he is 7.00 to scoop the award once again.  

Travis Head was named player of the series in 2021/22 as the Aussies crushed England 4-0 down under, and is priced at 23.00 to win it again. Marnus Labuschagne can be backed at 9.00 and Nathan Lyon at 13.00.

Series score 

There is very little to separate Australia and England heading into the Ashes and the series looks set be very tight indeed. 

A drawn series at 2-2, like in 2019, which would see Australia retain the Ashes can be backed at 6.50. Australia to win it 3-2 is priced at 7.00, while those who predict a comfortable 4-0 win for the tourists can get a price of 15.00.