Australian top-order head the betting for series top runscorer

The controversial selection of Kevin Pietersen in England's squad for the Ashes has not impressed bet365 - as you might expect, Australians dominate their market for the top batsman in the series. Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn head the betting, with England captain Michael Vaughan the top home batsman at 17/2 (9.50).

Australia captain Ponting, one of the most dominant batsmen of his generation, is the favourite at 5/1 (6.00). Averaging a mighty 56.50, he has hit 22 hundreds and 27 fifties in his 88 Tests. In his past 20 matches, his average is a huge 74.24 with five hundreds and 10 fifties. Strangely, he averages just 41 against England, though it's just over 44 in his eight Tests in England.

Justin Langer is next at 6/1 (7.00). The left-hander, who's transformed his style from a gritty battler to an attacking opener, averages 46.52, and in his past 20 matches, it's over 50. Hayden, one of the world's top batsmen of the past few years who averages 53.46, is 13/2 (7.50), while Damien Martyn, a stylish middle-order batsman much in the mode of Graham Thorpe, is a 7/1 (8.00) chance. The right-hander also averages more than 50 in Tests and was the third-highest runscorer in the 2001 series. Martyn has also been in the top three in each of Australia's past three Test series.

Interestingly, in two of the past three Ashes series played in England, a home batsmen has been the top runscorer. In 2001, Mark Butcher came out on top, in 1997, Graham Thorpe was beaten only by Matt Elliott, and Graham Gooch dominated the 1993 series with more than 600 runs. And in 2002/03 in Australia, Vaughan smashed 633 runs to come out on top.

Vaughan is due a big series, his average having dipped from more than 50 to 45 and just 40 in his past 20 matches. Andrew Strauss, next in the betting at 9/1 (10.00) alongside Marcus Trescothick, averages 55 after a superb start to his Test career and he could receive plenty of support given the fact that of the past six Ashes series, five of the top runscorers have been opening batsmen.

Other alternatives include Adam Gilchrist, the best number seven in the world, at 11/1 (12.00); Michael Clarke, whose form has dipped after an outstanding start to his Test career is 12/1 (13.00) as is Kevin Pietersen, who will be making his debut in England's Test side. Australia's number five, Simon Katich, is quite a big price at 16/1 (17.00), while Andrew Flintoff and Ian Bell are 18/1 (19.00).