The Ashes 1st Test Match Prediction: England versus Australia. Who Will Win?

When it comes to huge international sporting rivalries, many cricket fans will think of India and Pakistan. However, England and Australia have had a huge cricket rivalry for centuries, and it is about to kick off in test match cricket once again with The Ashes series that will start on the 16th of June at Edgbaston in Birmingham. If you are into your cricket betting, then you will definitely want to check out our cricket match prediction.

England Team Preview

England recently announced their squad for the upcoming Ashes series, and there were no surprises as the team basically picks itself at the moment. They have been in fine form over the last year or so, with losses being scarce. The brand of cricket that they are playing under Brendon McCullum is extremely exciting, and the Aussies know that any wayward bowling will be punished. Below are three key players for England:

Joe Root: Root's time as captain of England was nothing short of a failure, but as a batsman he has been spectacular for his country. To date, he has scored 10,948 runs for England, and is without doubt one of the best batsmen ever. If England lose early wickets, they will look to Root to steady the ship.

Harry Brook: He has only played six Test matches so far, but he has already shown what a talent he is. He has 809 runs under his belt, which includes 4 centuries and 3 fifties. No other player in the history of Test cricket has introduced themselves with such a bang, and if the Aussies do not get him out early, they could end up chasing leather all around the field.

James Anderson: He might be 40 years old, but Anderson is still a bowler that is full of quality. To date, he has picked up 685 wickets at an average of 25.99, and he will be hopeful of hitting the 700 mark this summer. If he gets to bowl on a green top with some cloud cover, then the Aussies might find themselves nicking off for fun.

Australia Team Preview

Australia revealed their team for the Test Championship final and the first two Ashes Tests back in April, and there were not that many surprises. The likes of Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Scott Boland, and Todd Murphy will have their first Ashes experience, but they have already shown their quality in other matches. Below are three key players for the Aussies:

Steve Smith: He is not a very likeable person, but there is no doubt about his quality as a cricketer. He is one of the best batsmen in the world and is closing in on his 100th Test match - he has currently scored 8792 runs, which has included 30 centuries and 37 half-centuries. England will not want him hanging around for long.

Usman Khawaja: Every cricket team needs a Mr. Reliable, and Khwaja fits the bill for the Australians. He has proved his mental toughness, and is currently averaging 47.82 in Test cricket. If the Aussies find themselves in a crisis, they will back him to get them out of it.

Josh Hazlewood: The Aussies have always had quality fast bowlers, and Hazlewood has the quality to put the ball on a sixpence time and time again. He currently has 222 wickets in Test cricket, and we are certain that many betting on The Ashes will put money on him to be Australia's top wicket taker.

Toss Prediction

There is usually plenty of swing on offer for pace bowlers at the start of a match at Edgbaston, but there is plenty on offer to the batsmen once they get set. We reckon that the team that wins the toss will opt to bat and put on a big score that will put their opponents under a lot of pressure.

Pitch Conditions

The Edgbaston Pitch is usually a competitive one, so a good bat and ball contest should be expected. After a couple of overs, the pitch will get better for batting, and the batsmen will be able to trust the bounce. The outfield is usually pretty fast, which means that the batsmen get good value for their shots. If the bowlers apply themselves well, then they should be able to cause regular issues for the batsmen, making for some entertaining cricket.

Our Match Prediction

So, if you are going to be making use of betting sites for cricket during the 2023 Ashes, who would we recommend that you put your money on?

Well, both teams have been playing some quality cricket over the last year or so, which means it will not be an easy game to call. However, home advantage should be taken into account here, and if England get on top then it will be very hard to wrestle back the momentum. We would put our money on England winning a closely fought first Test match.

Our match prediction: England to win.