Cook now odds-on in series betting

Alastair Cook's record-breaking double-century in the first Test has put him way ahead in the market to be England's top runscorer across the entire Ashes series and even with four Tests it's hard to see anyone overtaking him.

That's not because he's the best batsman in the team - he's not - but he is in form and he is already 138 runs clear of his nearest challenger in the top England runscorer market.

Having made a total of 302 runs in Brisbane, his confidence should be sky high now and as an opener he has eight chances to add to his total. Bet365 make him 1/2 to still be on top when the series ends in Sydney in the first week of January.

Jonathan Trott, who made 164 runs in Brisbane and who did his bit to save the match, is next at 5/1 and that could also be pretty good value because he bats at No 3 and his obstinate character means that he is likely to knuckle down throughout and is one of those batsmen who rarely gives his wicket away.

Andrew Strauss, who showed he is in fine touch with a lovely century in the second innings in Brisbane, is 11/2 and he will have plenty of opportunity to add to his total, so don't rule him out just yet. Ian Bell is 11/1, our pre-series pick Kevin Pietersen is now 14/1 and Matt Prior is 125/1.

Original preview
If England are to win the Ashes in Australia for the first time since 1986/7, then not only will their bowlers need to perform superbly, but their batsmen will need to get the runs to allow them to do their job. And for them to do that, it stands to reason that the big guns need to fire on all cylinders.

For big guns, read Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss. Though the likes of Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood will doubtless chip in with more than useful contributions, it's hard to see England winning the series if they don't bat at the top of the game.

On form, you might think that Strauss deserves to be the outright favourite, especially since Kevin Pietersen has struggled to hit the heights since recovering from injury. But bet365 clearly respect reputations for they make him only a slight favourite at 10/3, while Pietersen is close behind on 7/2, alongside Jonathan Trott on the same price.

Trott has done absolutely nothing wrong since coming into the side in the last match of the victorious Ashes series in England last year, but he has not played Test cricket in Australia and it's not easy for a player to perform brilliantly first time round.

That said, Pietersen was outstanding on his first visit there last time round, smashing a brilliant 576 runs in 2006/7, all that despite the fact that England were hammered 5-0 with Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath rampant.

That was an outstanding effort and I fully expect Pietersen to perform well again this time. He is going to play in South Africa in the build-up to regain confidence and he is a big-stage performer - there's nothing he likes better than beating the Aussies, so he is a worthy favourite.

Strauss has averaged more as captain than before the took the reins so there is no reason to think he won't have a good series too. The skipper loves to set the tone and he and Cook should enjoy the fast, hard pitches Down Under, where swing is not so much of a factor as it is in England.

Behind the top three, Collingwood is 11/2 and Bell - after his brilliant 192 in the warm-up match, has gone above him at 5/1. Alastair Cook, who has shown welcome signs of form, is 6/1, with Eoin Morgan 10/1. I am not sure if England will go with Morgan, at least at first, for Bell's experience is likely to see him bat at No 6.

And I would be tempted to go with Bell above Collingwood as the best outside tip. He may have had a shocker in 2006/7 but there is no Warne or McGrath any more and none of the England batsman will fear any of the Australia bowlers this time. He has always been classy but now he appears to have the belief in himself that is so crucial.

In the end, though, it will probably come down to a straight fight between Pietersen and Strauss, with the slight edge going to Pietersen, providing his head is right. He has looked decent in the warm-ups and while Strauss has looked in great form, as has Bell, I'd still go for Pietersen to stand up and be counted when it matters.