Top Lord's performers backed to continue good form

Kevin Pietersen, the one light in the gloom for England in batting terms, is the new favourite to be his country's top runscorer in the five-match Ashes series. His two half-centuries at the home of cricket vindicated the selectors for picking him ahead of the now-retired Graham Thorpe and the Hampshire man has now been cut from 15/2 (8.50) to a clear favourite at 15/8 (2.87).

bet365 made captain Michael Vaughan the big favourite at 11/4 (3.75) to be top scorer for England before Lord's but his sorry displays with the bat have seen his odds drift to 9/2 (5.50), fourth favourite behind Pietersen, Marcus Trescothick at 7/2 (4.50) and Andrew Strauss at 4/1 (5.00).

However, although his average has fallen since he took the captaincy, his class has not just disappeared overnight and at his best he is England's best batsman. The last time England met Australia in an Ashes series, Michael Vaughan came of age as an international cricketer, smashing a massive 633 runs in five Tests, including three magnificent centuries. His average of 63 in that series and his total of 633 runs put him 251 runs ahead of the next highest England runscorer, the then captain Nasser Hussain. Perhaps the challenge will bring out the best in his game again.

Ian Bell, who looked a little out of his depth at Lord's, is now 8/1 (9.00) while Andrew Flintoff, who failed twice with the bat, is 17/2 (9.50). Both men were 11/2 (6.50) chances before the series began last week.

Bowling
England may have plenty to think about when it comes to their batting line-up for the second Test, but their strike bowlers performed admirably at Lord's with Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff causing the Australia batsmen all sorts of problems.

Harmison, who began the series as a narrow favourite at 11/8 (2.37) is now heavily favoured by bet365, who make him just 4/9 (1.44) to finish as his side's leading wicket-taker over the five Tests. The Durham man stormed in at Lord's and was rewarded with eight wickets. More importantly, the Australia batsmen will know now that they have a battle on their hands.

Andrew Flintoff, who began as 3/1 (4.00) third favourite, is now the clear second favourite at 4/1 (5.00) after yet again bowling his heart out at Lord's. Flintoff also looks like he may have the measure of Adam Gilchrist (a dangerous statement to make, I admit), and that could prove important in the matches to come.

Matthew Hoggard, who began as a 2/1 (3.00) shot, looked largely ineffective at Lord's despite bowling tirelessly as always, and is now 7/1 (8.00), behind Simon Jones who is now 13/2 (7.50) having started out at 6/1 (7.00).

As for Ashley Giles, he's gone out from 9/1 (10.00) to 28/1 (29.00) after the Australia batsmen looked completely at ease against him at Lord's. Though the likes of Old Trafford will offer him more assistance, he seems to present little danger to the Aussie batsmen.

One thing to bear in mind is that in the past four Ashes series, no England bowler has taken 25 wickets or more. Andy Caddick tops the list with 24 in 1997, with Darren Gough next after his 21-wicket haul in 1998/1999.

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