Online Betting News from Sky Bet

Johnson 20/1 for 10-wicket haul

It looks almost certain that Australia will stick with out-of-sorts paceman Mitchell Johnson for the third Ashes Test and Sky Bet have released a host of specials on how he'll perform at Edgbaston.

Johnson has struggled to reproduce the kind of performances which helped the Aussies to triumph in their winter series in South Africa although captain Ricky Ponting was encouraged by his display against Northamptonshire last week even though his figures were modest.

The skipper revealed that Johnson may not take the new ball against England as his side look to peg back a 1-0 deficit but he believes this would allow him to "swing the ball later in the innings".

And Sky Bet make it 20/1 about Johnson silencing his critics in emphatic fashion with a 10-wicket haul in the match while it's 50/1 he strikes with a hat-trick.

Johnson can also be backed at 7/1 to pick up five wickets in the first innings and it's 9/2 that he scores a half-century with the bat.

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Ashes weather watch!

The third Test between England and Australia gets underway on Thursday from Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports 1 from 11am. With rain expected to interrupt play, Sky Bet have produced a special market on how many overs will be bowled on the opening day, with between 41 and 60 the 5/4 favourite. It's 5/1 that 0 to 20 overs are played, 13/8 21 to 40 and 4/1 61 or more. In the third Test, it's 7/2 for England to take a 2-0 lead in the series, 2/1 for Australia to bounce back and level the series and 5/6 the draw.

Following the news that Ian Bell will bat at four for England, Sky Bet are offering 13/8 for the Warwickshire man to score a half-century in his first innings. Bell, who has scored a total of 640 runs from 11 innings in Division One of the County Championship, is 7/1 to mark his return with a first innings century and it's 5/6 that he scores over 31.5 runs.

Sky Bet's Tim Reynolds said "With the Edgbaston pitch only producing four results in it's last 20 first class matches and the likelihood of several delays, it's no surprise that the draw had been backed off the boards."

In the series outright, Australia are 5/2 to come from behind and retain the Ashes, with England evens and the draw 9/4.

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Bell 13/8 to score a half century

Following the announcement that Ian Bell will bat at four for England in the third Ashes Test against Australia, Sky Bet are offering 13/8 for the Warwickshire man to score a half century in his first innings.

Bell, who has scored a total of 640 runs from 11 innings in Division One of the County Championship, is 7/1 to mark his return with a first innings century and it's 5/6 he scores over 31.5 runs.

Sky Bet's Tim Reynolds said: "After a poor series against the West Indies in the Caribbean, Bell must have thought his international days were numbered. If he can transfer his recent form from the County Championship onto the international stage, Bell is easily capable of rewarding his followers with a big knock."

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Sky Bet refund Pietersen bets

Following news that Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series after surgery on his Achilles tendon, Sky Bet have refunded bets on him to be top England and top overall series batsman.

Sky Bet have reacted to Pietersen's withdrawal by easing England's odds of regaining the Ashes to even money (from 4/5) and have trimmed Australia to 5/2 (from 3/1). The draw has been cut to 9/4 (from 5/2).

Sky Bet's cricket compiler Tom Warburton said: "Although Pietersen's absence will be felt by England, there are no major reasons for Strauss' camp to hit the panic button just yet. England can now be backed at evens from 4/5 for the series, which could be value considering runs are being scored throughout the team."

For the third Test at Edgbaston, England are now 3/1 with Sky Bet from an initial quote of 9/4. The draw has been cut to 6/5 (from 6/4) and the Australians are 6/4 (from 2/1). Ian Bell is 1/20 with Sky Bet to replace Pietersen.

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The Draw Comes In For More Support

This morning has seen England make a pleasing start to the 2nd Test with both Andrew Struass and Alastair Cook making half centuries. Unsurprising it's the draw that has seen the majority of support prior to the lunch break leading Sky Bet to cut the odds from evens into 4/9.  England are now 5/2 with Australia, who have not been beaten by England at Lord's since 1934, at 7/1 at lunch.

Sky Bet's Tim Reynolds said: "It's great to see England having the upper hand but with rain expected tomorrow and over the weekend, the draw that's proving very popular amongst Sky Bet customers."

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Harmison 5/6 To Start 2nd Test

Following today’s squad announcement for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, Sky Bet are offering 5/6 for Durham’s Steve Harmison to make the starting eleven. Harmison’s team-mate Graham Onions, who took 10 wickets on his debut against West Indies earlier this year and was 12th man for the first Test, is 4/9 to start.

With the Lord's pitch likely to favour seam rather than spin, it’s 4/1 that England follow the same tactics as the firstTest and play both Monty Panesar and Graham Swann. It’s 5/1 that the England selectors make no changes to the starting eleven that played in Cardiff and 1/4 that just one change is made. James Anderson’s 26 in England’s first innings and 21 not out in their second innings saw the Lancashire man extend his record for most innings without a duck to 50. It’s 11/4 that Anderson gets out for a duck during the second Test and 8/11 that his string of ducks comes to an end during the current series.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said: “England will definitely be making changes from the first Test especially with Lord’s usually favouring seam bowlers. After his performance with the ball against Australia for the England Lions and his excellent spell against Yorkshire at the weekend, Harmison could be the man drafted in, especially if Flintoff is not available to play.”

The second Test gets underway on Thursday and England are 3/1 with Sky Bet to beat Australia at Lord’s in an Ashes Test match since 1934. Australia are 7/4 to win the second Test, with the draw the favoured outcome at 11/10. After his 150 in Australia’s first innings, Ricky Ponting is 8/11 to outscore England’s Ravi Bopara in a first innings match bet and it’s 5/4 that the Australian captain is their leading runscorer. From the other batsman match bets in the second Test, the Australian opener Simon Katich is 4/5 to outscore England captain Andrew Strauss (10/11) and Michael Hussey, who was the only Australian batsman not to reach double figures in the first Test, is 5/6 to outscore Kevin Pietersen (5/6).

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Pietersen 9/2 To Bounce Back With A Century

England’s Kevin Pietersen once again came under criticism after playing a poor shot to be dismissed for 69 in England’s first innings of the first Ashes Test yesterday but Sky Bet are offering 9/2 for the controversial batsman to bounce back with a century in the second innings.

Sky Bet also offer 6/4 for him to score another half-century and it’s 11/4 for the Hampshire man to be England’s leading second innings batman. 4/1 is quoted for Pietersen to get out again playing a sweep shot, while it’s 5/2 for Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz again to account for Pietersen. 

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said, “It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kevin Pietersen silence his critics by scoring a century in England’s second innings. He rewarded his followers who backed him to score a half century at 6/5 and also cost us a hefty payout by being England’s top first innings batsman.”

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Mervyn King 9/2 To Whitewash Louis Blundell

The conclusion of the first round of the Las Vegas Desert Classic takes place tomorrow and Sky Bet are offering 9/2 for Premier League darts finalist Mervyn King to beat newcomer Louis Blundell 6-0. King, who ended Taylor’s dominance in the Premier League, is 1/6 to progress to the second round, with the Chorley-based Blundell available at 7/2. 2007 winner Raymond van Barneveld is 1/7 to overcome American Bill Davis (4/1) and it’s 4/9 for the in-form Mark Walsh to beat 2003 Las Vegas Desert Classic winner Peter Manley (13/8).

Colin Osborne, who recently won his first Players’ Championship in Barnsley and was also runner-up to Phil Taylor in the UK Open, is 8/11 to see off the ever popular Co Stompe (evens) and fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort is 6/5 to beat Stoke youngster Adrian Lewis (8/13).

In the other three first round matches, world number two James Wade is 1/10 to overcome New Zealand’s Phillip Hazel (11/2), Andy Hamilton is 2/9 to beat California’s Chris White (3/1) and top USA player Darin Young is 6/4 to overcome Kevin Painter (1/2).

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Flintoff 8/1 to be dropped From Ashes squad

Following Freddie Flintoff's latest indiscretion, Sky Bet make the England all-rounder 8/1 to be dropped from the Ashes squad for disciplinary reasons.

Sky Bet's cricket compiler, Jason Colley, said: "This latest incident has surely tested the patience of the England management group, and after a string of indiscretions, one more offence from Flintoff could be the final straw."

Flintoff is 4/1 to be England's top wicket-taker but it is Graeme Swann that has come in for support in this market and Sky Bet have cut him to 3/1 (from 4/1).

England are 15/8 with Sky Bet to regain the Ashes.

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Flintoff 9/1 To Be Named Player Of The Series

Yesterday saw Andrew Flintoff help guide his Lancashire side to the top of the Twenty20 North Division with a majestic innings of 93 runs from just 41 balls. Flintoff, who recorded his highest ever score in the shortest format of the game and looks to be back in-form with the bat can be backed at 9/1 to be named the Ashes player of the series. It’s 14/1 that Flintoff is England’s leading runscorer in the five match Test series against Australia and 4/1 he’s England’s top wicket taker.

Flintoff, who missed out on playing in the recent ICC World Twenty20 to allow him time to regain fitness after knee surgery is 8/1 to take a five-wicket haul in England’s first innings of the first Test at Cardiff.

Sky Bet’s Tim Reynolds said, “Every England cricket fan will be happy to see Flintoff returning to form ahead of the Ashes. If England are going to stand any chance of winning the series they will need players like Flintoff to be fully fit and on top of their game.”

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