Betting Blog
Tye at the top after early rounds of BBL
The 2017-18 Big Bash League got underway with a thrilling final-ball victory for Thunder over Sixers in the Sydney derby curtain-raiser
ESPNcricinfo staff
26-Dec-2017
The early rounds of this year's Big Bash League have thrown up the usual challengers at the top of the table. Perth Scorchers - victors in three of the last four campaigns - are currently two from two following their latest win over Melbourne Stars on Boxing Day, while Melbourne Renegades are also firmly in the hunt, after trouncing Brisbane Heat under the roof at Docklands Stadium.
It's the Renegades who currently shade the betting - they are 3/1 to be this year's champions, with Scorchers just behind them on 7/2. And while it's early days, there is already a gap in the market opening up to the also-rans of Sydney (Thunder and Sixers) and Hobart Hurricanes, who are bringing up the rear at 16/1.
In the individual markets, one man has leapt to the top of the betting thanks to his prolific feats in the first two outings for Perth Scorchers. Andrew Tye is 4/1 to be the tournament's leading wicket-taker, and with hauls of 4 for 21 against Sixers and 5 for 23 against Stars, it's little wonder. Keep an eye, however, on Rashid Khan lurking further down the list. The leggie is the first Afghan player to feature in the BBL, and at the age of 19, he's got the world at his feet, and bamboozled batsmen at his mercy.
Full postAnyone for a bit of Lynnsanity?
The 2017-18 Big Bash League got underway with a thrilling final-ball victory for Thunder over Sixers in the Sydney derby curtain-raiser
ESPNcricinfo staff
19-Dec-2017
Look what you could have could have won. This time last year, an Australia Ashes whitewash was a tempting if not outlandish 22/1. But now, like speculators who failed to jump on the Bitcoin bandwagon in time, that boat has comprehensively sailed. All of a sudden, the 5-0 scoreline is flashing up as a none-shall-pass 1/1. It's time to look away, because this tour is about to get gruesome.
So let's do just that. As one series dribbled to a dismal conclusion, another got underway Down Under, with the start of the 2017-18 Big Bash League, and a thrilling final-ball victory for Thunder over Sixers in the Sydney derby curtain-raiser.
That result, however, hasn't done much to improve either team's odds of winning the outright title, however. The favourites remain the serial champions, Perth Scorchers, victors in three of the last four seasons - or half the life of the tournament. They are 15/4 to back up their win in the 2016-17 season, with the Melbourne sides, Renegades and Stars, hot on their heels at 9/2.
Full postAustralia closing in on Ashes glory
It's not over til it's over. But the odds of England Ashes glory are currently stretched to breaking point.
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Dec-2017
It's not over til it's over. But the odds of England Ashes glory are currently stretched to breaking point. Thursday's third Test is a make-or-break encounter at the legendary WACA in Perth, a venue where England have won just once in its 47-year Test history, and that was way back in 1978-79.
So, don't get your hopes up, would seem to be the bookmaker's message, with
England currently 25/1 to stage a remarkable comeback and snaffle the series 3-2. The odds of a 5-0 whitewash, on the other hand, have scurried into view at 9/4, a ludicrously short-priced favourite that reflects both recent Ashes history (England have lost 5-0 on two of their past three Ashes tours) and the current state of an England team that is being outplayed on the field, and out-psyched off it.
Even a 2-2 draw, which would be sufficient for England to retain the urn - is a stiff ask for the visitors. Bet365 currently price that at 18/1, far longer odds that the 15/2 that an Australia 3-2 win would cost.
Full postIs Stokes England's only salvation?
It's safe to say that Pandora was not a betting woman, because there's not even any hope left for England in the 2017-18 Ashes
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Nov-2017
Oh dear. It's safe to say that Pandora was not a betting woman, because there's not even any hope left for England in the 2017-18 Ashes, according to the bookies at Bet365, in the wake of a Gabba trouncing that was more comprehensive than even Australia might have hoped for in the build-up to the match.
It was nip and tuck for three days of the match, but Australia's ten-wicket win has ransacked the market. A final scoreline of 4-1 to Australia is now the favourite at 4/1, with a 5-0 whitewash ludicrously fancied at 5/1. If England are to win the series they are going to have to do it the hard way - a 3-2 scoreline is 14/1, while it is a minimum of 28/1 for Australia to fail to win another Test - England's hopes of turning the series on its head with four wins in a row is an outlandish 250/1.
There's little doubting who the odds-setters fancy as the Man of the Series, either. Steve Smith's stunning unbeaten 141 has him priced at 2/1 to pick up that accolade, and given it was one of the most important Ashes hundreds in living memory, it's hard to see him being dislodged unless England turn the tables in a catastrophic fashion.
Full postAustralia remain favourites despite squad doubts
England's Ashes tour gets underway at a venue where Australia have not lost since 1988-89
ESPNcricinfo staff
21-Nov-2017
The talking is all but over, the show is about to begin. England's Ashes tour gets underway in earnest at the Gabba on Thursday morning, at a venue where Australia have not lost since 1988-89, and England have not won since 1986-87.
With that in mind, the odds-setters at Bet365 are refusing to be swayed by sentiment, or even by the raised eyebrows that Australia's squad produced last week, with it featuring a debutant opener in Cameron Bancroft, and recalls for Shaun Marsh and Tim Paine, who hasn't featured in Australia's plans since 2010.
Australia remain overwhelming favourites, both for victory in the first Test (8/11, compared to England's 11/4), as well as for the series. It's been a constant refrain throughout the interminable build-up, but Australia are shorter odds to achieve a 5-0 whitewash (8/1) than England are to achieve a victory by any margin.
Full postOverton the outside bet for Ashes triumph
The strength of England's and Australia's bowling attacks is sure to determine the destiny of the urn this winter
ESPNcricinfo staff
30-Oct-2017
It takes 20 wickets to win a Test match, so no matter who prevails across a five-match series in this winter's Ashes, the strength of England's and Australia's bowling attacks is sure to determine the destiny of the urn. And with that in mind, Bet365 appear to have Australia's noses in front in the pre-series betting.
Mitchell Starc is the main man of Australia's attack. Tall, rapid, and from an awkward left-arm line, there could be shades of Bruce Reid in 1990-91 if he really gets stuck in to England's batting. He leads the market at 9/4, ahead of his anticipated new-ball partner Josh Hazlewood, at 10/3.
England, however, have two world-class veterans leading their charge, both of whom have played a role in four winning Ashes campaigns. Granted, neither man could do much to stem the tide on the last tour of Australia in 2013-14, but James Anderson and Stuart Broad remain high-quality campaigners who can pull matchwinning spells out of the bag at any given moment.
Full postAustralia's women make first move in Ashes market
One match gone in a hugely anticipated Women's Ashes, and if Australia's keenly-fought eight-wicket win is any indication, we are in for a humdinger
ESPNcricinfo staff
23-Oct-2017
One match gone in a hugely anticipated Women's Ashes, and if Australia's keenly-fought two-wicket win is any indication, we are in for a humdinger to befit the status of two teams who epitomise the standards that have become associated with women's cricket in recent months.
England, World Cup winners back in July, won their last Ashes campaign in Australia in 2013-14 but were soundly beaten in the return series at home two years ago. And their early setback has given the odds-setters reason to doubt their credentials on this trip. Australia are 4/5 favourites to retain the Ashes, with England at 12/5.
To win the ODI leg of the multi-format series - in which England are currently ranked the No.1 side - Australia's odds are even more confident. They are 1/5 to wrap up the three-match mini-series, although England are 7/2 to secure back-to-back victories, which might not be out of the question now that they've got their first-night nerves out of the way.
Full postAustralia tighten grip in pre-Ashes stakes
How's your pre-Ashes optimism holding up? The bookies have deserted England in the build-up to Brisbane
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Oct-2017
How's your pre-Ashes optimism holding up? Australia's familiar struggles in India, allied to a steady (if occasionally erratic) summer of progress from England's Test team, might have given the impression that victory Down Under was very much on the cards this winter.
However, the omission of Ben Stokes from the Ashes squad, in the wake of his off-field transgressions, has applied something of a wake-up call to a pre-series market that, let's face it, was never getting entirely carried away by England's prospects.
Right at this moment, Australia are more fancied by Bet365 to complete a 5-0 whitewash (their third in four home Ashes) than England are to win the series by any margin. Masochists can get 9/1 on an Australian clean sweep - which might be just enough incentive to stay up all night if you've stuck a tenner down. But even that has come in from 16/1 a few months ago.
Full postWest Indies lack for backing after 1st ODI defeat
There's not a lot of love left for West Indies after a rather flaccid defeat in the opening ODI against England at Old Trafford on Tuesday
ESPNcricinfo staff
20-Sep-2017
There's not a lot of love left for West Indies after a rather flaccid defeat in the opening ODI against England at Old Trafford on Tuesday. In a two-horse race, England are an overwhelming 3/10 to win the second match at Trent Bridge, with West Indies a distant 5/2.
And the odds don't get much more optimistic for the series scoreline. England are 17/10 to wrap up a 5-0 clean sweep (although the weather in Nottingham may well be put paid to that prospect). And though it's not out of the question that West Indies can battle back, they are a far-fetched 80/1 to finish with a 4-1 win.
England's last ODI at Trent Bridge resulted in a world-record 444 for 3, and an England-best 171 for the home hero, Alex Hales. And at 3/1, alongside Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, Hales is a decent bet to be England's top scorer once more.
Full postNo Hope of a repeat performance?
Does lightning strike twice in the world of sports betting? The answer, it would seem, is an emphatic 'no'
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Sep-2017
Does lightning strike twice in the world of sports betting? The answer, it would seem, is an emphatic 'no', if the pre-match odds are anything to go by ahead of the third Investec Test between England and West Indies.
A stunning West Indies win at Headingley last week left a raft of pundits and ex-pros with egg on their faces, and transformed an anticipated 3-0 whitewash into a rather more frantic fight to the finish of the Test summer.
But Bet365 are confident that order will be restored at the home of cricket this week. England are a comfortable 2/7 to seal the win that takes the series, with West Indies a more distant 9/1 to back up their earlier efforts.
Full post