Record-breaking Ashes bet as punter stakes £250,000 on England

The biggest bet in Ashes history was struck on Monday morning at Ladbrokes – on an England series victory.

The firm fielded a £250,000 single bet on England at odds of 7/4 to triumph Down Under as the odds on a historic win for the tourists continue to tumble.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: “As opening salvos go this has to be one of the bravest. It’s a monster bet and a sure sign of the confidence behind the England team.

“They’ve got all the momentum and this bet has all but confirmed our position on the eve of the Ashes: we’re terrified of an England win.”

England are now into 13/8 for the series on the back of the huge bet with Australia clinging on to their position of odds-on favourites at 10/11. A drawn series is 9/2.

Ladbrokes have also released their biggest ever range of Ashes specials markets with Graham Swann the 9/1 favourite to be Player of the Series. A hat-trick this series is 12/1 and the firm offer 16/1 about the opening ball of the series being a wide.

Ladbrokes – The Ashes betting:

First Test

11/10 Australia
15/8 England
11/4 Draw

Series betting

10/11 Australia
13/8 England
9/2 Draw

England to retain the Ashes?

4/5 Yes
10/11 No

Top England series runscorer

7/2 A Strauss
7/2 K Pietersen
9/2 J Trott
5/1 I Bell
6/1 A Cook
7/1 P Collingwood
12/1 M Prior
20/1 E Morgan
33/1 S Davies
50/1 S Broad
100/1 G Swann
500/1 bar

Top England series wicket-taker

11/10 G Swann
7/2 J Anderson
7/2 S Broad
6/1 S Finn
12/1 C Tremlett
20/1 T Bresnan
20/1 M Panesar
50/1 P Collingwood

Series correct score

Australia 5-0 25/1
Australia 4-0 16/1
Australia 4-1 16/1
Australia 3-0 16/1
Australia 3-1 6/1
Australia 3-2 12/1
Australia 2-0 25/1
Australia 2-1 8/1
Australia 1-0 50/1
England 5-0 40/1
England 4-0 33/1
England 4-1 33/1
England 3-0 25/1
England 3-1 12/1
England 3-2 12/1
England 2-0 33/1
England 2-1 9/1
England 1-0 66/1
Drawn 2-2 6/1
Drawn 1-1 20/1
Drawn 0-0 125/1

Top Australia Series Wicket-Taker

M Johnson 9/4
B Hilfenhaus 5/2
D Bollinger 4/1
P Siddle 6/1
X Doherty 8/1
S Smith 10/1
N Hauritz 12/1
S Watson 16/1
M North 33/1
S Katich 50/1
M Clarke 100/1

Top Australia Series Runscorer

R Ponting 3/1
S Katich 7/2
S Watson 4/1
M Clarke 5/1
M Hussey 6/1
U Khawaja 10/1
M North 12/1
B Haddin 16/1
C Ferguson 16/1
S Smith 100/1
M Johnson 100/1
N Hauritz 200/1
X Doherty 500/1
B Hilfenhaus 1000/1
R Harris 1000/1
P Siddle 1000/1
D Bollinger 1000/1

England to win a Test
Yes 1/6
No 7/2

Australia to win a Test
Yes 1/12
No 6/1

Total England Wins

None 7/2
Exactly 1 7/4
Exactly 2 15/8
Exactly 3 5/1
Exactly 4 20/1
Exactly 5 40/1

Total Australia Wins

None 6/1
Exactly 1 3/1
Exactly 2 15/8
Exactly 3 5/2
Exactly 4 8/1
Exactly 5 25/1

Total Draws

None 9/4
Exactly 1 11/8
Exactly 2 5/2
Exactly 3 9/1
Exactly 4 25/1
Exactly 5 125/1

Player of the Series

G Swann 9/1
R Ponting 10/1
A Strauss 12/1
K Pietersen 12/1
S Watson 12/1
S Katich 12/1
M Johnson 12/1
B Hilfenhaus 12/1
S Broad 16/1
J Anderson 16/1
M Clarke 16/1
P Siddle 16/1
A Cook 20/1
J Trott 20/1
25/1 bar

1st Aus wicket-taker in the series

B Hilfenhaus 9/4
D Bollinger 11/4
M Johnson 7/2
P Siddle 4/1
N Hauritz 8/1
S Watson 16/1
M North 16/1

1st England wicket-taker in the series

J Anderson 2/1
S Broad 2/1
S Finn 3/1
G Swann 5/1
C Tremlett 8/1
T Bresnan 25/1
M Panesar 33/1
P Collingwood 50/1

Highest scoring ground

Adelaide 7/4
WACA 5/2
Sydney 3/1
MCG 6/1
The Gabba 10/1

Series Specials

Any player to score 200 in a single innings 11/8
NO player to score 200 in a single innings 1/2
Any team to win by an an innings 11/10
NO team to win by an an innings 4/6
The first ball of The Ashes to be a wide 16/1
Any player to score 300 in a single innings 25/1
The highest Ashes run chase to be beaten (Currently 404) 10/1
Any player to take a hat-trick 12/1
NO Player to take a hat trick 1/66