Warne huge favourite in Ashes bowling markets

Shane Warne's heroics at Edgbaston may have eventually been in vain, but the magnificence of his bowling has taken him well clear in the battle to be top wicket-taker for the Ashes series. The leg-spinner's 10-wicket haul took his tally to 16 for the two Tests, five better than the next man, England hero Andrew Flintoff.

Having been a narrow favourite before the series started but pushed out to 9/4 (3.25) after Lord's, Warne is now 1/7 (1.14) with bet365 to finish on top, and with Glenn McGrath, the top wicket-taker in each of the past two Ashes tours - definitely out of the Old Trafford Test and a big doubt for the rest of the series, he would appear to have few rivals for top spot. His next victim will be his 600th in Tests and bet365 are sure to have a market on who that will be as the match nears. Flintoff is next in the standings with 11 wickets and with the next Test on his home ground, he could receive plenty of support, especially as he's just the fifth favourite with bet365 at 14/1 (15.00). Of course, he doesn't take the new ball so his chances of a big haul are naturally limited. McGrath, despite his injury, is still 10/1 (11.00) to come out on top, after his nine wickets at Lord's. Brett Lee and Steve Harmison have 10 wickets apiece and are joint second favourites at 9/1 (10.00). Harmison looked superb at Lord's but was not so effective at Edgbaston, while Lee looks to be in excellent form.

Only once in the past six Ashes series - in Australia in 2002/3 - has an English bowler even finished as the joint wicket-taker. On that occasion, Andy Caddick took 20 wickets to share top honours with Jason Gillespie, but there were mitigating circumstances. McGrath played just four Tests and took 19 wickets, while Warne took 14 wickets in just three Tests.

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Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.