The Ashes: 2nd Test


Ashes 2nd Test Preview.

 

Lord’s, London, will play host to the second Ashes test from Wednesday August 14 to Sunday August 18. Australia currently lead the five-match series 1-0 following a Steven Smith-inspired 251-run victory in the opening clash in Birmingham.

Smith who - alongside David Warner and Cameron Bancroft - was banned for ball-tampering after the infamous Sandpaper Gate saga in Cape Town in 2018, redeemed himself in his first official outing in a test match in more than a year with dogged twin centuries.

England meanwhile suffered a significant blow as their veteran star bowler James Anderson aggravated a recurring calf injury just four overs into his spell during the clash at Edgbaston. The 37-year old swing bowler has been ruled out of the second test and is likely to be replaced by the exciting Caribbean import Jofra Archer.

Tourists and current holders of the famous urn, Australia, are looking to win their first away Ashes series in 18 years. The hosts England have only won the Ashes, after losing the opener, on two occasions before.

The Baggy Greens are currently the bookies favourites to win at 10/3 while Joe Root’s men come in at 13/5 with the predicted outcome of a draw being priced at 4/5. The team led by Tim Paine put on a mammoth second innings total of 487 in the first test and can be backed to lead after their first innings at 17/20. With the draw being the early predicted outcome another market worth looking at would be Test Match Finish – Day 5 Session 3 coming in at 1/2.

Steve Smith was rightly the headline in terms of individual accolades, for his scores of 144 and 142, and if you believe that he was just getting started and that there’s more of where that came from you can back him in the following markets:

To score a Century - 1st/2nd innings

 

To score a Century - Innings 1

Yes - 19/20

 

Yes -14/5

No - 4/11

 

No - 1/4

     

Top Run Scorer - 1st & 2nd innings combined

 

Most Runs (vs Root) - Innings 1

2/1

 

4/6

     

To score a Double Century - 1st/2nd innings

   

Yes - 9/1

   

No - 1/40

   
     

Top Run Scorer – Innings 1

   

5/2

   

Nathan Lyon was the star man for the Aussies with the ball in hand, in the first test, as the wily off-spinner took the most wickets in the match (9). The 31-year old passed the 350 career-wickets milestone as he ripped through the hosts to end with the impressive figures of 6/49 in the second innings. He can be backed to repeat the feat, to finish as the top wicket-taker for the match, at the tempting price of 6/1. However when it comes to bowlers the name on everyone’s lips has been Windies-turned-England fast bowler Jofra Archer. The 24-year old was called up to the one-day international England team shortly before their successful Cricket World Cup campaign where he led the bowling attack with 20 wickets in 11 matches. If his exploits in the 50-over format are anything to go by then Australia are in for a testing time. The Bridgetown native can easily bowl at speeds in excess of 150kph and has a devastating short ball off a gentle and rhythmic run- up. We have the following pre-match markets available ahead of the speedsters test and Ashes debut:

Player's Total Wickets - Innings 1

 

To take 5 or more wickets - 1st innings

Over 2.5 - 9/10

 

Yes -13/2

Under 2.5 - 17/20

 

No - 1/16

     

Player to take 5 or more wickets - 1st/2nd Innings

 

Most Wickets - Innings 1 (vs Cummins)

Yes- 15/4

 

19/20

No - 1/6

   
     

Top Wicket Taker - 1st & 2nd innings combined

 

Man of the Match

6/1

 

12/1

 

England will be doubly determined to bounce back as another defeat would leave them with a mountain to climb. Australia would have a 2-0 lead needing just one victory out of the last three to seal the series. Whichever way it unfolds at Lord’s we will bring you highly captivating Live in-Play betting markets throughout the entire match.