However, another miserable weather forecast is expected when play is supposed to begin this Friday. The gloomy weather forecast has led to the odds on a draw being shortened to 6/5 following a big hit taken by the bookies after Australia batted out the final day at Edgbaston yesterday. Even before play began the odds of a draw were backed into 2/5 from 7/5. Blue Square’s Neil Lucas said “we tried our best to avoid the draw throughout but regardless of how short we made it, money kept coming.” Bookmakers will therefore be frightened of such an event recurring which is why most bookmakers are as short as 11/10 three days before the test even begins.

England meanwhile, despite leading the series, are as long as 10/3 with the bookmakers to win the fixture whilst they can be backed at 4/1 on the betting exchanges. The loss of Andrew Flintoff’s form from the first test may be responsible for this alongside the injured Kevin Pietersen. However, England’s younger bowlers seem to be holding their own, especially when the ball is swinging, and these may be generous odds if the weather holds out. Australia as always must be feared, especially with a player such as Bret Lee returning to the fold and they are therefore available at just 15/8 despite not yet recording a victory.

Andrew Strauss is favourite to be England’s top run scorer at 3/1 and on present form this might be the bet to have. Cook and Bell can be backed at 9/2 and 5/1 respectively whilst Flintoff is an outsider at 12/1. Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson are joint favourite to be crowned top Australian bowler at 11/4, which seems fairly short, especially considering the recent form of Siddle who is available at 9/2 and may offer better value.

With rain making it increasingly likely that Headingly will be a washout draw, the series betting has seen England’s price reduced to 5/6, whilst the draw is 9/4 and Australia are as big as 11/2 to win the Ashes. Michael Clarke is 11/10 favourite to be the series top run scorer, whilst England captain Andrew Strauss is 3/1 and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has been pushed out to 7/1, despite a magnificent 150 in the first test. However, there are still two tests to be played and you can expect all these series odds to fluctuate throughout so make sure you keep up to date with them here.

The first Test Match between West Indies and England begins tomorrow in Jamaica, with England the 4/7 favourites to win the series.

England have not lost a test series to West Indies in 15 years, and it is difficult to make a case for the home side. Punters hoping for an 27/10 upset in the first test will need Chanderpaul to be at the top of his game, who is 11/4 to be the Top West Indies Batsman, just ahead of 9/2 Chris Gayle.

England drew their tour match with West Indies A, which was fair enough as they were only given 4 sessions in which to bat.  Andrew Strauss thought that it was a pretty good work-out, but still admits that his side needs to sharpen up.

In the betting for the 1st Test Match, there has been a bit of money for the draw, which has been cut from 5/2 into 9/4. If Andrew Flintoff stays fit, England will be good value to cover totesport’s 1.5 test match handicap at odds of 5/4.

I won’t be having an interest in the Man of the Match market, because the bookmakers are betting to 150%. Chanderpaul and Flintoff are the 10/1 co-favourites in that market, whilst Flintoff is 11/4 to be the top series wicket-taker.

Kevin Pietersen is pretty short at 11/4 to get the first English Century, so backers could be tempted by either 7/2 Strauss or 4/1 Cook. Alastair Cook is 4/1 to Hit a Six and Matt Prior is 6/5 to make a stumping.

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West Indies v England Series Betting

West Indies v England 1st Test Match Betting

West Indies v England Specials