Ashes 2019 betting tips – First Test, Edgbaston

England	-110 at William Hill	Place Bet
Draw	+550 at William Hill	Place Bet
Australia	+150 at William Hill	Place Bet

An epic summer of cricket continues this Thursday when England and Australia resume hostilities in the first Test of the 2019 Ashes series.

While the hosts head to Edgbaston as Cricket World Cup champions, they were anything but convincing in their recent red-ball win over Ireland.

Joe Root’s men were skittled for 85 in the first innings of that match, while Jack Leach top scored with 92 as the nightwatchman in the second dig.

That has raised questions about the English batting order, especially the inexperienced trio of Rory Burns, Jason Roy and Joe Denly.

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While those three are all accomplished top-order players in county cricket, they have only 11 Test caps between them.

That stat will pique the interest of an Australian bowling attack that is brimming with top-drawer talent.

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have the led the line for years now, but the return of James Pattinson and the emergence of Michael Neser has left the Aussie selectors with a few questions to answer.

Justin Langer and company also have to choose between Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris to partner David Warner at the top of the innings, while Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Wade have all made decent cases for the no.6 slot.

Regardless of who makes the cut, the Aussies will come out with a point to prove as they chase their first Ashes win in the UK in 18 years.

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England vs Australia top batsman odds

Jonny Bairstow – +550 at Bovada
England bring a few in-form batsman into the Ashes, but Bairstow may be the pick of them. The Yorkshireman opened the innings superbly at the ICC World Cup, but he will most likely bat at no.4 or no.5 in the Test matches. He is the man to get things going if early wickets fall.

Steve Smith – +300 at Bovada
There was a lot of talk about where Smith should have batted in Australia’s CWC team, but no.4 is his preferred spot in the longer form. Although the ex-skipper has not played Test cricket since March 2018, he showed enough in the World Cup to suggest he is ready to pick up where he left off.

England vs Australia top bowler betting

Jofra Archer – +350 at Bovada
Archer has already made a name for himself in the limited-overs game, but this is the international debut we have all been waiting for. The 24-year-old Barbadian import combines pace and flair with game smarts beyond his years, while his back-of-a-length approach will hurry up the Aussie bats.

Pat Cummins – +275 at Bovada
Time and again the Mitchell Starcs and Josh Hazlewoods get talked up, but time and again it is Cummins who delivers the goods. Even if he bowls at first or second change, Pat is Australia’s most reliable quick and one of the few who can adapt to a variety of conditions and game situations.

First Test betting predictions – Ashes 2019

Australia to win – +150 at Bovada
Australia for highest opening partnership – -125 at Bovada

The green and gold have not won a Test at Edgbaston since 2001 – the last time they lifted the urn in Britain. They also haven’t won the first match of a British Ashes series since 2005, but losing streaks have to end sooner or later. Both sides have big holes in their batting, but the Aussie bowlers look lethal and will want to make an immediate impact.