Sharp Anderson and Finn to make up for hosts’ failings with the bat

Well it was never going to start quietly was it?

Following all of the hype and expectation the 2013 Ashes series began with a bang at Trent Bridge, and we may have already seen how the first Test will end.

One of England’s key strengths as a rapidly improving team over the past few years has been their ability to make up for failings with the bat by impressing with the ball, and so it proved in Nottingham.

Peter Siddle had so impressively ripped through the hosts to take 5-50 in a first innings which ended with England losing their last four batsmen for just two runs.

But where Siddle led, Steven Finn and James Anderson so impressively followed.

The Aussie paceman’s heroics had at one point seen his side established as in-play favourites for the match as England were dismissed for 215, but after Finn picked up two wickets in two balls and Anderson so impressively removed key man Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers, the hosts wrestled back control of the contest and now look the worthy favourites at a backable price of 8/13.

With Australia still 140 runs behind before they resume on Thursday, home hopes will be pinned on Finn and Anderson once again.

Stuart Broad was unable to bowl on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury picked up when facing a Mitchell Starc bouncer, but that is unlikely to deter his two fellow pace bowlers on a pitch which is only going to help them more and more the longer the match goes on.

If the home attack can strike early on the second day and restrict Australia to much improvement on their 75/4, then a first Test victory could be in their grasp already.

All Odds and Markets are corect as of the date of publication