3rd Ashes Test Betting Preview Part 3
- By A.J. Ryder on July 24, 2013 17:14 GMT
It doesn’t come as a massive shock that Jimmy Anderson is considered the be the outright favourite for top home bowler in the first innings at Old Trafford. The bookmakers have him trading at a quality 7/4 price while Graeme Swann is the second most favoured player for the 1st innings honors and he is available at 11/4 to beat out Anderson. It remains to be seen whether that is the right call in the first innings as you can expect him to coax a bit more turn out of the surface during the second innings. Depending on the price - and how well Anderson continues to play - it may be better to wait for Swanny to pull it off in the second innings.
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Anderson’s massive performance in the first two tests has resulted in him taking longer breaks later in the match and you do have to wonder how his body is going to hold up. He has rescued England at so many key moments - being the most shining example in quite a while of your best player playing like your best player.
He may be spared in the opening innings if England don’t need him as they don’t want to aggravate any old injuries in the world-beating bowler. He has been able to coax some real reverse swing out of the two surfaces so far and you reckon that England may want to use him with the new ball but then default to Broad and Finn to handle the bulk of the assignment and use Anderson sparingly when needed.
Graham Onions is in the mix for the third test and he is 4/1 to be named top bowler. He made some real headlines the last time the Ashes was played in England and he will be looking to get his name in the headlines once again. Tim Bresnan has put in a workmanlike performance in the last test and will definitely be looking to build on that quality play.
Peter Siddle is the betting favourite for the top Australian 1st innings bowler and he’s a solid 9/4 to get the result. Ryan Harris is at 5/2 while Mitchell Starc trades at a 3/1 margin. This market is much more competitive and, with Pattinson out of the reckoning, it is time for somebody to step up.
