Ashes prices holding steady after NatWest Challenge

The appetisers are finally over and now the main course can begin. The five-match Ashes series between England and Australia gets underway at Lord's on July 21, and the tourists, who've held the Ashes unbroken since 1989, are understandably still favourites.

The only surprise, after the way they recovered to win the NatWest Challenge with back-to-back victories at Lord's and the Oval, is that bet365 have not cut them even further. Perhaps the prices have moved enough already, but the ominous way the Aussies hit form at the right time in the past few days suggests they'll take some beating when the Tests kick off.

As things stand, they're still 4/9 (1.44) to extend their winning run against England, while the home side remain 11/4 (3.75) to wrest the crown back to these shores. The draw is still an 11/2 (6.50) shot.

Momentum is a massive thing in sport, and there's a good chance that England will be feeling a little shell-shocked as, after an impressive win at Headingley, they were steamrollered by Ricky Ponting's juggernaut of a squad. Even those who had been out of form looked much more like their old selves, especially Adam Gilchrist will a savage century and Jason Gillespie with a few wickets. Only Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, the openers, have yet to show their mettle.

The correct score betting remains unchanged from when we last checked it. A 4-1 Australia win - the result of three of the past five Ashes series - is steady at 12/1 (13.00). A 3-1 win remains the 11-2 favourite, while a 2-1 victory is 8/1 (9.00) and a 4-0 triumph is 7/1 (8.00) and a 5-0 whitewash is 18/1 (19.00).

If you think England can win the Ashes for the first time since 1986/7, then a 2-1 victory is the favourite, at 11/1 (12.00) while a 3-1 win remains 14/1 (15.00) and 3-2 is 16/1 (17.00). A 5-0 whitewash is a frankly derogratory 50/1.

Keep an eye on these odds over the next week though as psychological points have been scored and there could yet be some big money on the all-conquering Aussies.