The Ashes 2023 Tips: Root, Labuschagne and Head stand out in Top Batsman market

There has been 514 days since the last ball was bowled in the 2021-22 Ashes in Australia - a long and tumultuous wait that will come to an end on Friday.

The Ashes is almost back on our television screens, and home supporters will be praying for a better result than the last series when England were thrashed down under. Both teams warmed up with impressive victories: Australia secured the World Test Championship with an authoritative win over India last week, while England saw off Ireland in a game of significantly lesser importance and quality.

However, this new-look England side led by captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendan McCullum have risen from the metaphorical ashes to give new hope. ‘Bazball’ has debatably changed the way that many have viewed the approach to test and longer-form cricket; a cavalier approach that prioritizes entertaining cricket and pushes for a result. 

However, Australia are no pushovers and have been characteristically vocal about what they will bring to the arena over the next six weeks. Let’s get into the nitty gritty of the 2023 Ashes from a betting perspective.

Score prediction

A draw is perhaps unlikely with England’s new approach as Stokes will try to force a result. The last 15 games suggest that the weather would have to wipe out two of the five days to bring the draw into contention. 

However, there is a chance that unfortunately happens with the classic British summer and therefore Stokes will have no way of guaranteeing a result. Australia could also force a draw if they are in control of the series going into the final day as they would retain the Ashes with a stalemate.

Australia are strong favorites in the outrights and rightly so, which makes the correct score market far more enticing. England will fight hard and have a good chance of winning two games - don’t underestimate them on home soil. As a result, there are far worse options than splitting your cash between scores with five results at tasty odds.

Predictions: 3-2 Australia @ 7.2, 3-2 England @ 7.6, 2-2 Draw @ 8

Who will be the Top Bowler?

Ollie Robinson has made a breathtaking start to his England career and, with new-found fitness, he is my main bet for most series wickets. You might be tempted by one of the other quicks, too, or the seasoned veterans (Broad and Anderson) but squad rotation is highly likely and that would put me off the latter.

Anderson will likely play three test matches across the series and won’t be able to complete the overs that Robinson, who averages 21 in test cricket (18 with a strike-rate of 40 in England), will bowl.

I think it’s also worth following Nathan Lyon on the Aussie side. The 35-year-old will bowl a lot of overs, and England’s attacking ploy to take on the spinners will produce chances for the seasoned bowler to consistently take wickets across the series. 

Interviews leading up to the series suggested he won’t change his approach, and I think his valuable experience will help him late in the day with England chasing results. 

Predictions: Nathan Lyon @ 5.5, Ollie Robinson @ 6

And what about Top Batsman?

Beyond Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, none of the Australian batters have much pedigree in England. 

The former heads the market but is short enough at 3.7, so I’d rather back Labuschagne at nearly double the odds as he is equally likely to hit big runs for the Aussies. The 28-year-old has had a good few seasons playing for Glamorgan in the English county set-up and boasts a strong test record. He will be a big target for the English bowlers each innings.

Joe Root is the pick of the English batters at 6.2. Hundreds have come fast for Root over the last 2 years and his record in England is mega. Without the weight of captaincy, I think it will be his time to churn out runs as those around him put on a show. Other options in the England team are either new members (Brook and Duckett) or lack consistency across a five-match series (Pope, Bairstow and Stokes). 

Those looking for an outsider should side with Travis Head, who has just scored a big century in the WTC final. That performance isn’t an anomaly, rather part of an impressive resurgence in the last 18 months where he has averaged over 50 runs in test cricket. 

Head is in the form of his life and will be keen to prove himself outside of Australia as the majority of his runs have come there. An attacking approach might yield good returns for him in England if the top order can see off the quicks and take the shine out of the ball on flat pitches. 

Predictions: Joe Root @ 6.2, Marnus Labuschagne @ 6.8, Travis Head @ 20