Ashes Betting

Day 2 at Lord’s belonged to England. After resuming on 364/6 at the start, the day couldn’t have got off to a worse start with Andrew Struass leaving a ball form Hilfenhaus that cut back and clean bowled him without adding to his overnight score on just the second ball of the day.

Swann and Broad soon followed Strauss back to the pavillion and England looked likely to be well short of the 400 mark until man-of-the-day James Anderson (29) and Graham Onions (17 n/o) added 47 for the last wicket taking England to 425 all out.

The ball appeared to be swinging around during the morning session and England started off well with Flintoff and Anderson keeping things tight with the new ball. Runs were tight which might be the reason why Phil Hughes chased a wide one down the leg side off Anderson gloving it through to Prior giving him the first of his 4 wickets.

After the dodgy dismissal of Ponting – given out caught behind when he was lbw – Australia settled down a bit with Katich and Hussey looking comfortable until Katich played an uncharacteristic loose shot off Onions leading to a magnificent catch from Broad in the deap.

That seemed to be the catalyst for England and after Flintoff clean bowled the dangerous looking Hussey they never looked back. Helped by some poor hook and pull shots and with some good bowling England ripped through the Aussie middle order to leave them on 156/8 still 269 runs behind at the close and still requiring 70 runs to avoid the follow on.

England are now the favourites at a best price of 4/9 with Bet365, VC Bet and William Hill
The draw is now at 3/1 with Ladbrokes
Australia are 8/1 with Totesport, Stan James and Boylesports

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