Pietersen the new batting favourite

The more I see of Kevin Pietersen, the more impressed I become and the bookies clearly agree as the Hampshire man is the new favourite to be the top runscorer in the series, on either side. A third consecutive half-century, in just his second Test, has given him a total of 212 runs in two matches, putting him 40 runs of his nearest challenger, Australia's Michael Clarke.

Pietersen has shown an amazing maturity at the crease, sticking to his game plan and relying on his huge confidence and excellent eye to take the attack to the Australians. bet365 make him the new favourite at 3/1 (4.00), while Justin Langer, who has looked in good touch with 156 runs, is 9/2 (5.50) and Clarke is 11/2 (6.50). Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who was the favourite before Edgbaston, has been pushed out to 6/1 (7.00), the same mark as Marcus Trescothick, whose first-innings knock of 90 helped set the tone for England in their nailbiting victory. Damien Martyn, who was fancied in this column to come out on top before the start of the series, has some ground to make up having made 115 runs in the first two Tests, and is now 17/2 (9.50) to come out on top, while Andrew Flintoff is 12/1 (13.00), the out-of-touch Matthew Hayden is 16/1 (17.00) and Adam Gilchrist, who has yet to fire, is 28/1. (29.00).

No one has yet hit a century in the series and one big innings will change everything, so the likes of Gilchrist, Andrew Strauss, who's 25/1 (26.00) and even England captain Michael Vaughan, who is short of confidence with the bat and is 28/1 (29.00), can get back into the mix of this market.

Remember, of the past six Ashes series, five of the top runscorers have been opening batsmen and the England pair are sure to get some more support, especially if Glenn McGrath remains on the sidelines through injury.