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