Correct score markets offer good value

Australia have been cut to 2/5 (1.40) favourites to retain the Ashes in the last day or so, and though they deserve to be put up as the likely winners, that is no value to all but the biggest of gamblers.

Instead, and as always in meetings between these two, the correct-score betting is a popular market for the ordinary punter, offering much better value than simple outright betting. England have improved out of sight since they were humbled inside 11 days in Australia a couple of years ago, but Ricky Ponting's side are still heavily tipped to extend their hold on the famous urn.

As it has been for the best part of three weeks, a 3-1 win for Australia is the 11/2 (6.50) favourite. That's been the correct score twice in the past six Ashes series, though both of those were in Australia. It's 12/1 (13.00) that Australia win it 4-1, the correct score in 2002-03, 2001 and in 1993, though two of those were six-Test series.

As often happens in the days before the start of a series, the patriotic money starts to roll in and England are now just 11/1(12.00) to win the series 2-1 - the same score as when they last took the Ashes in 1986-87. The 2-2 draw has also come in to 7/1 (8.00), while Australia are 15/2 (8.50) to win 2-1 and 8/1 (9.00) to win 3-0.

bet365 also have a novel market called "Series Score" where punters can predict the score of the series after the third and fourth Tests. Australia are 9/2 (5.50) to be leading 3-0 after the first three Tests. Though the weather is a factor here, they are also 5/1 (6.00) to be 2-1 ahead, while the favourite is a 2-0 lead at 11/4 (3.75). After four Tests, the favourite is Australia to be winning 3-0, at just 4/1 (5.00).

Considering that England have won just seven matches in the last eight Ashes series, the 40/1 (41.00) on England to be 3-0 up after the first three matches looks just a tad optimistic.

Related stories:
Fast-starting Australia favourites for Lord's win
Can Pietersen cope with the pressure?