The men’s first Test is done and dusted but now all the attention turns to the women as Trent Bridge plays host to the first and only Test match of the women’s Ashes. The five-day thriller kicks off an Ashes series that Australia are expected to win yet again, having won every series since 2014.
But home advantage could be key as the two best sides in the world come face to face on English soil. Below, courtesy of Betfred, we’ve taken a look at some of the best betting tips and picks for the opening Test match which begins on Thursday morning.
Top run scorers (first innings)
A few interesting options to consider in this market. The obvious choice would simply be to back Beth Mooney to score the highest number of runs for Australia in the first innings at 10/3. The number one ODI batswoman in the world is a danger with the bat in hand, however, when it comes to Tests she doesn’t have too much experience, averaging 26.28 across four matches.
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It opens the market up if you look past the popular Australian. Alyssa Healy is priced at 18/5 but should score well, but our pick is Elysse Perry. She’s hugely experienced and has posted huge scores in the past in Test matches, with her record currently standing at 213. Perry to be Australia’s top scorer at 15/8 looks like a sensible pick.
For England, Tammy Beaumont will be dangerous, but we are backing Nat Sciver-Brunt to outscore her. She’s ranked as the third best ODI batswoman in the world and may aggressively have to chase a total, or give England hope under pressure. She’s 16/5 to top score for England in the first innings.
Top wicket takers (first innings)
Australia have a potent attack that could tear England apart, but we’ve picked out Megan Schutt to be the most profitable bowler at 3/1. The medium/fast bowler will be relied upon heavily by stand-in skipper Healy and should be given enough overs to consistently test England’s batters. That should be enough for her to pick up a handful of wickets, with Alana King also a dangerous option for the visitors.
For England, we are picking Kate Cross above Sophie Ecclestone. Cross has 21 Test wickets to her name having bowled 300 fewer balls than Ecclestone, who has taken 17. Those stats are enough for us to lean in her favour, with Betfred offering 18/5 for her to be the most successful in the first innings. The spinner might be a better bet when the second innings comes around.
Match winner
We are expecting to get five days of clear weather in Nottingham, which should rule out the option of a draw. Australia are priced at 4/6 for the win, while England are 4/1 and it is difficult to argue with that pricing. The visitors have dominated the Ashes over the last three editions and this time around it looks set to go the same way.
In Mooney, Healy and Tahlia McGrath they have batters who can take the game away from the hosts and, although patience will be key, they should have the attacking quality to pick England off when they need to. The longer format might make this slightly more unpredictable but Australia should win this.
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