Ashes 1st Test betting tips & top odds – The Gabba, Dec 8-12

Cricket’s oldest and fiercest rivalry sparks up again this Wednesday as Australia and England renew hostilities in the first Test of the 2021/22 Ashes series.

After a rollercoaster preparation, the Aussies head into the series opener with a bit of certainty about their setup. Pat Cummins, the newly appointed captain, confirmed the starting XI on Sunday, putting to bed any speculation about the makeup of a side that appeared to have a few iffy elements.

Travis Head has been preferred to Usman Khawaja in the middle order, perhaps showing that the selectors are looking to the future rather than banking on a tried-and-true performer in Australian conditions who is in the back end of his international career. That line of thinking might have seen the in-form Jhye Richardson picked as well, but Mitchell Starc will get a chance to redeem himself after a poor showing against India last summer.

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England, meanwhile, have opted to keep their cards close to their chest. Either Zak Crawley or Dawid Malan could bat at no.3, while Ben Stokes’ late addition to the squad means Jonny Bairstow, Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope are all fighting over one spot in the middle order. Craig Overton was one of England’s better performers in the last Ashes series held in Australia, but is he likely to get a run ahead of Ollie Robinson or Chris Woakes in Brisbane?

With plenty of rain expected to hit Southeast Queensland this week, the draw ($2.90) is taking a bit of money away from Australia ($2.10) in the head-to-head betting. The top cricket betting sites are paying as much as $4.75 for England to claim a rare win at the Gabba, where they have not tasted victory in a Test match since 1986.

Ashes 1st Test betting predictions

Australia top wicket-taker: Josh Hazlewood

It is easy to understand why the new skipper tops the wicket-taker betting for Australia, but our man for the first innings of the first Test is Josh Hazlewood. The Tamworth native loves bowling against England and has done the business in Brisbane in recent years, while he offers a bit more betting value than Cummins.

England top runscorer: Rory Burns

If you look beyond the shorts about Joe Root ($2.63), there is some value to be found at the top of the England batting order. Rory Burns might have a technique that makes Steve Smith look borderline orthodox, but he has made tough Ashes runs in the past and could be the one to hang about and give Root et al someone to play around.

Match result: Australia

The forecast for Brisbane this week shows a chance of rain on four out of the five scheduled days of play, but how often do you get over $2 for Australia to win a Gabba Test? The home side will want to make up for the shock loss to India last summer, while England have had no joy in Queensland for 25 years. Keep an eye on the weather, but we are taking a punt on the Aussies to force a result.

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