England vs. Australia Odds, Ashes Predictions & Betting Tips: Two early bets for the 2023 Ashes

It's one of sports iconic clashes - The Ashes - as England and Australia fight it out over five Tests to try and lift the iconic little Urn.

Here at BettingOdds.com we are hotly-anticipating a sensational clash between the two cricketing enemies this summer and a month away from the start of the action we pick out some early selections...

It's been eight years since England last won the Ashes, as Alastair Cook's men ground out an impressive 3-2 success on home soil, but since then it's been Australian dominance and a 4-0 drubbing Down Under in the 2021/22 Ashes saw the Baggy Greens dismiss their 'Pommy' rivals with relative ease.

However, there's a new brand of cricket on English Test shores as the partnership of relatively new skipper Ben Stokes and former New Zealand gun batsman Brendon McCullum bringing his playing style into the coaching fraternity and the pair have England playing on the front foot from ball one.

Dubbed 'BazBall', England's new attacking style has seen them steamroller teams away with some swashbuckling batting bringing in exciting players with the name Harry Brook rapidly becoming an iconic figure in world cricket.

But, the Ashes is a whole new ball game and while the aforementioned Brook along with former captain Joe Root and Ben Stokes provide three solid options with the bat, the top three have often found life tough and with Australia's mouth-watering pace attack led by captain Pat Cummins, it could be a real test for England to score at the rate of knots they have been.

Astonishingly, as the two mainstays of the Australian batting line-up Steve Smith (Sussex) and Marnus Labuschagne (Glamorgan) become accustomed to English conditions playing county cricket, the likes of Root and Brook are currently playing in the Indian Premier League.

So, while the aforementioned Aussie stars will be fully prepared for the English swinging conditions, England could come in a little rusty, and while Stokes' side have a one-off Test match with Ireland that may not be enough, so the 7/5 for Australia to win the 1st Test at Edgbaston looks the bet of the Ashes.

England vs Australia Tips

Australia to win 1st Test

While the spotlight has focused on the batting under the reign of Messrs Stokes and McCullum, England's bowling attack still continues to be spearheaded by the veteran duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, but 40-year-old Anderson has a reported niggle ahead of the Ireland Test - albeit being named in the squad - and it's unknown whether he's capable of playing all five Tests in what is a short space of time.

Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood make up a superb quartet of fast bowlers, but are injury prone, while the spin option is limited, so it's another area the Aussie squad is arguably more impressive in. Add to that the fact Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the summer then the bowling ranks for England aren't fully nailed down for the series and could lack a little gusto at times.

An array of quicks led by Cummins, the Australian Test side have a star spinner in the shape of Nathan Lyon, whose ability to hold an end up allows the pacemen to put pressure on the batsman and with England playing shots from the get-go then the visitors could rattle through England's line-up relatively quickly.

There's no doubt England have a far superior chance on home soil, but to see Australia at 6/1 to win 3-1, which is a point bigger for England to win by the same scoreline at 5s is surprising, and the visiting Aussies can show their class on the big stage once again and hush the exuberant crowds set to grace the five Test grounds over a mouth-watering summer.