| Now the talking is over and series underway, the | | | | easily pass the 1,000 mark if he produces anything |
| tussle for the Ashes hots-up with a mid-summer | | | | like his previous Lord’s form. Those interested in |
| second Test at the Home of Cricket. Ashes spread | | | | Ashes <a rel="nofollow" |
| bettors thumbing through their formbooks will be | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' |
| aware that Lord’s is traditionally a ground where | | | | outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=' rel='tag'>spread |
| the Aussies have enjoyed rich pickings – it was | | | | betting</a> will be interested to know that he |
| the scene of their solitary victory in the 2005 series | | | | has hit three of his 17 Test centuries on the ground |
| and the tourists have remained unbeaten there since | | | | which, along with a further four 50s, have boosted |
| 1934. Like the Ashes schedulers who moved the | | | | his ground average to 58.17, compared to a Test |
| Lord’s test from its familiar position as the series | | | | average of 43.96. |
| opener, buyers of the Australia match win index | | | | With Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath consigned to |
| spread will note their dominant record of 15 victories, | | | | the Ashes history, cricket spread punters will have to |
| 14 draws and five defeats. However, spread buyers | | | | look a little harder than in previous series for obvious |
| of Australian team and individual match runs will note | | | | choices of who might be a value buy among the |
| that captain Ricky Ponting has a poor individual record | | | | bowling index spreads on offer. Those cricket spread |
| at Lord’s with an average of just 17.25 in Tests | | | | betting may know that Brett Lee is the highest |
| against England, having never made higher than 49. | | | | Lord’s wicket taker of the current squad against |
| Furthermore, few of the current Aussie squad have | | | | England – and with the paceman’s seven |
| experience playing in front of the MCC. Of those that | | | | victims coming at an average of 27.42 and strike rate |
| do, vice-captain Michael Clarke performed admirably | | | | of 47.2, the Barmy Army, and spread sellers of |
| here in 2005 with an average of 51 and top score of | | | | Lee’s total series wickets, will be hoping he |
| 91. Simon Katich has an average of 47 from the | | | | doesn’t come through medical examinations on |
| same two innings, but he will be hoping to keep | | | | his injured rib. For the home side James Anderson |
| Andrew Flintoff at bay who bowled him four times in | | | | and Flintoff are regular Lord’s wicket takers, |
| the last series on English soil. | | | | having struck a combined 49 times in their England |
| Unsurprisingly, <a rel="nofollow" | | | | Test careers. Sporting Index bettors interested in the |
| onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(' | | | | Flintoff series all-rounder performance spread will |
| outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=' | | | | observe Freddie’s 25 Lord’s successes, |
| rel='tag'>Sporting Index</a> expect the | | | | including 4 in the last home Ashes series, which have |
| batting danger man for the Three Lions to be Kevin | | | | taken a total of nine matches to claim with a bowling |
| Pietersen, whose two Lords knocks in the 2005 | | | | average of 35.92 and strike rate of 70.4. Suggesting |
| series yielded a brace of half centuries backing up his | | | | he may well be England’s trump card in the |
| superb ground average of 72.90 – the highest of | | | | Ashes, at least to buyers of his performance spread, |
| any Englishman to have played more than 5 matches | | | | Anderson has penetrated far more frequently and |
| at the venue. Buyers of Andrew Strauss’s total | | | | already has two Lord’s five-for’s under his |
| runs spread should also be pleased to note that the | | | | belt from six matches there. His 24 wickets come at |
| England skipper is fifth in the all-time list of England | | | | an average of 27.79 with a strike rate of 55.3. |
| Test scorers at Lord’s. Currently standing on a | | | | NB – All averages are accurate ahead of the |
| total of 989, the left-handed England opener will | | | | Ashes series on 06.07. |