Perth is the venue for the first Ashes test match between England and Australia, the game gets under way on Friday and we take a look at the squads, form and a number of options available to punters.
The Ashes will be decided over the course of 5 test matches and we begin with the squads.
Australia: Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Michael Neser
Note, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott all miss out on the first test through injury
England: Ben Stokes (Captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (Vice-Captain), Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood
Recent Form:
Australia
Since losing the final of the World Test Championship to South Africa at Lords in June Australia’s only subsequent test match series saw them complete a 3-0 clean sweep of West Indies in the Caribbean with 3 wide margin wins.
In their most recent home series from November 2024 to Jan 2025 Australia beat India 3-1 (1 draw).
England
England hosted India in a 5 match series in June / July this year and it turned out to be a thriller which was drawn 2-2 with 1 draw.
In New Zealand 12 months ago England won a 3 match series 2-1.
Recent Ashes Series
In England in 2023 the series was drawn 2-2 (1-1)
In Australia in 2021/22 England lost 4-0 (1 draw)
In England in 2019 a 5 match series was drawn 2-2 and Australia retained the urn.
In Australia in 2017/18 England lost 4-0 (1 draw)
The Venue, Perth Stadium
Over the course of the last decade Australia have played 5 test matches at Perth, winning 4 and losing 1. That one defeat came in the most recent test at this venue 12 months ago when India (150 and 487/6 declared beat Australia (104 and 238) by 295 runs.
Series Betting
Prices quoted from Sportingbet are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Australia are 0.57/1 to win the series with a tie at 8/1 and England are a 2/1 chance
A 3-2 series win for Australia is priced at 11/2 and it's also 11/2 for England to edge it 3-2
Steve Smith is 7/2 favourite to be top run corer in the series with Joe Root a 9/2 shot in the same market.
Mitch Starc is 100/30 favourite to be the leading wicket taker in the series with Nathan Lyon 92. Jofra Archer at 6/1 is the shortest price of the England bowlers.
1st Test Betting
Prices quoted from Pokerbet are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Australia are 7/10 to win the first test with a draw at 13/1 and England can be backed at 1.45/1
The Verdict
This should be a cracking series and Australia, who have named a very experienced squad, will be missing some big bowlers. Whether England can take advantage and draw first blood is another matter and the low scores in the first innings of the most recent test match at Perth is potentially another factor to take into consideration.
There were some doubts around Mark Wood’s fitness which appear to have been clearing up, his record against Australia is good and I will side with him to be England’s leading 1st innings bowler. In the equivalent market for Australia Scott Boland gets the vote.
That aside, a Joe Root 50 in the first knock provides the additional interest.
Bets: Top England 1st Innings Bowler, Mark Wood at 3/1 with Pokerbet
Top Australia 1st Innings Bowler, Scott Boland at 11/4 with Pokerbet
To Score a 50 in the 1st Innings, Joe Root? Yes at 1.55/1 with Sportingbet
