England bowlers fancied in second Ashes Test match bets
Published:Bowlers on both sides had great fun in a low-scoring first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, with a Jimmy Anderson spectacular hauling England over the line. The spearhead of the home attack is fancied to lead by example once more, with England taken to claim a two-bowler-match-bets-to-one victory in the first innings at Lord’s.
Anderson was always going to be a danger at Trent Bridge – a ground where has had so much success – but his match-winning 10-wicket haul was still above and beyond the call of duty, coming as it did amongst a gruelling 55.5 overs of toil.
Whilst potential fatigue may temper the appetite for his 8/13 price in his match-up with Pattinson and the full-match presence of Broad will mean less overs in which to work his magic with the orb, the spearhead of the England attack is favoured to prevail.
Ebenezeer Scrooge himself would be proud of a Lord’s record that has yielded a maiden every three and a half overs from 394.4 bowled at the ‘home of cricket’ over the last five years and his ability to build his own pressure should see him out scalp Pattinson in just the latter’s third international Test innings in England.
Siddle’s clash with Broad looks the toughest of the three attacking duels to call, but the England man’s first innings injury is less of a concern after he bowled well in the second innings of the first Test.
The most experienced bowler in the tourists’ ranks, Siddle gave his young acolytes reason to believe with an inspired first innings five-for at Trent Bridge and claimed four wickets last time Australia came to Lord’s. However, Broad took seven in that same match and has taken more than four at the ground in six of the eight Tests he has played there over the past five years.
Of the three first innings bowler match bets on offer perhaps the most cut and dried and yet surprisingly-priced is the face-off between Bresnan and Aussie paceman Starc, which sees the former only a narrow outsider.
Starc proved himself an adept bowler at Trent Bridge, claiming five wickets across the match and growing in stature as it progressed, taking more wickets at a better economy rate in the second innings.
Bresnan on the other hand was overlooked for selection and is by no means certain to play at Lord’s despite Steve Finn’s slightly erratic first Test form. If getting the nod it’s unlikely the Yorkshireman’s inclusion will be accompanied by an explosion of shattering stumps as he’s taken just two wickets in his last 118 overs for his country.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
