| Are you geared up for The Ashes yet? The most | | | | and with aplomb. |
| fiercely fought cricket test series starts in Brisbane | | | | Because of England's inability to get anywhere near |
| on 23rd November 2006 and culminates in the fifth | | | | the form that saw them win the last series combined |
| and final test in Sydney on 2nd January 2007. The | | | | with their key players frequently succumbing to |
| England squad has been named with Andy Flintoff | | | | injury, Australia have been installed as clear odds-on |
| confirmed as captain and you can be guaranteed that | | | | favourites. But you can bet on so much more than |
| Freddie will be urging his team mates to reproduce | | | | the ultimate winners of the series. You can also bet |
| the form that saw them pip the Aussies last time | | | | on the following associated with the series: The |
| round, when a draw in the final test at the Oval was | | | | match that will produce the most runs; player to take |
| enough to assure England a 2-1 series win. | | | | most catches; first batsman to score a century; how |
| It took 16 years for England to get their hands back | | | | many wickets will Flintoff take? That's just a sample, |
| on the Ashes in 2005, and they won't want to let go | | | | but come up with something Ashes related and |
| of the ultimate cricketing prize in a hurry. However, | | | | there's probably an online gambling site somewhere |
| last time they travelled down-under in 2002-03 they | | | | that will offer you odds! |
| were humbled 4-1 by a dominant Aussie outfit. They'll | | | | All of that makes for a great book, as online |
| be looking to produce a much better series of | | | | operators compete on prices and come up with |
| performances this time around. Australia, however, | | | | ever-more innovative bets to attract the punters' |
| are chomping at the bit to take revenge on the | | | | pounds. Plus, with the advent of broadband and |
| 'Poms' following their poor and heavily criticised | | | | greater processing power the internet is fast |
| performance on these shores last time round in 2005, | | | | becoming the beast it was destined to be. Because |
| and whether you'll be joining the 'Barmy Army' and | | | | of those dual innovations the 2006/2007 Ashes |
| heading to Oz, or following the games from here in | | | | Series is set to provoke a massive uptake in |
| the early hours they promise to be nail-biting affairs. | | | | 'real-time' betting during the games as the advantage |
| So, what does the Test series mean to the online | | | | swings from one side to the next, or where any |
| gambling world? Internet betting is one of the fastest | | | | chance of a win seems so remote that massively |
| growing areas on the net, and this collection of | | | | favourable odds will be dangled in the hope that they |
| games could prove a bonanza for online betting | | | | will be taken up by punters at little risk to the online |
| operators. The series has already prompted a flurry | | | | bookies. |
| of bets, both online and in the traditional bookies' | | | | The clever money is on Australia, the patriotic money |
| offices, and the punting looks set to continue apace | | | | on England, where are you putting yours? |