The Ashes 1st Test Expert Tips & Predictions

We have expert betting tips for The Ashes 1st Test in Perth, which starts on Friday.

Australia vs. England is always worth watching, and it doesn’t get much better than The Ashes, where Australia is favoured to retain the urn.

Our Ashes tips include 1st test winner, top first innings runs scorer, and top first innings wicket taker.

The Ashes 1st Test Tips & Predictions

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Best Bet

Australia @ $1.73

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The last time England won The Ashes on Australian soil came in 1986-87, and we can’t see history being broke this week.

Australia has been the more dominant test team in recent Ashes history, including two wins and two drawn series from their last four meetings. That’s in Australia’s favour, and getting $1.73 from bookmakers is better than expected.

We priced Australia at around $1.50 to win the opening test, which is the all-important match of the series. Playing in Perth should only help Australia, and although losing Josh Hazlewood is a big blow, they have enough depth to cover him.

Look for the experience Australians to lead the way, including Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, and Mitchell Starc. There is a lot of young blood for Australia, but experience is needed, and they should shine on home soil.

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Top Australian Run Scorer 1st Innings

Steve Smith @ $3.90

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We are backing Smith to lead the way for Australia in the first innings. He’s the $3.90 favourite for a reason, and he could post a total of 70-100 runs. That should be enough to see punters cash with this option.

His 56.01 test average against England bodes well for playing in Perth, where conditions should favour batters. He has 12 centuries against England, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he scored another in the opening test.

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Top England Run Scorer 1st Innings

Ben Stokes @ $7.00

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Our Ashes picks have Ben Stokes having a good opening innings for England. He’s one of their best batsmen, and that can’t be discounted when it comes to playing The Ashes.

His experience is vital to their success this week, and although he’s not currently playing his best cricket, he can’t be overlooked as a top scoring option for the visitors.

Joe Root is understandably the $4.50 favourite for England’s top 1st innings run scorer, but punters get better value for Stokes.

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Top Australia 1st Innings Wicket Taker

Mitchell Starc @ $3.10

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Starc is a bowler who could tear through the England top order. His electric pace is suited by playing at Perth, where he should be able to generate a good pace on a dry wicket.

That’s why he is the current $3.10 favourite to take the most 1st innings wickets, and he could pick up 3-4 wickets. That should be all he needs to win this cricket betting option, as Australia has a balanced bowling attack.

He prepared for The Ashes with a first-class game between New South Wales and Victoria, where he went 4/91. Those figures give us confidence, so punters should expect a big performance from Starc, especially with Hazlewood sitting this one out.

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Top England 1st Innings Wicket Taker

Matthew Potts @ $4.10

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Making his Ashes debut is Matthew Potts, who has 36 wickets from 19 test innings. The 27-year-old is going under the radar due to his lack of top-level experience, but England could unearth its next star bowler.

He has two four-wicket bags from 10 test matches, and having not bowled against Australia could work in his favour. He has no scar issue of being hit around the park, and he could make a big impact for the visitors.

$4.10 is a fair price from bookmakers in a tight betting market.

Editor In Chief

Daryl Curnow

After graduating from the University of Auckland (BA - English), Daryl was thrown into the world of sports and horse racing journalism.

Having worked as a racing journalist for two years, he decided to move into the online world of horse racing and sports writing. After years of honing his craft, Daryl became a professional punter in 2009 - with a focus on horse racing, NRL, AFL, NBA, Rugby, NFL, and US college sports.

Daryl's tips have been featured on various websites around the world before joining the GoBet team. When he's not working, Daryl tries to avoid making bogeys on the golf course.