Ashes 2017/18 free betting tips: Series specials markets

David Warner to score fastest century of the series at 2/1

In the wealth of specials markets that tend to be available only for the Ashes, it often pays to stick with the obvious. Warner is a clear favourite in this market, yet there’s a very strong argument that 2/1 under-rates his chances. Warner scores a lot of centuries: 20 in 66 Tests. Warner scores a lot of home centuries: 14 in 33 Tests. Warner scores a lot of fast centuries: Four of those 14 at better than a run-a-ball (in the absence of Stokes, nobody else on either side even has one) plus others in 106, 109, and 113 balls. Any one of those should be plenty good enough to take out this particular market. He also has some near-misses – a 100-ball 97 and an 84-ball 85 among them – which suggests at the very, very least you’ve got a bet that keeps you interested until the last rites in Sydney.

Moeen Ali to score fastest half-century of the series at 14/1

In the century version of this market we first needed to be with someone we're confident will make a century or two along the way. Even before looking at the likely rate of such a century, it ruled out plenty of contenders. But half-centuries, that's a different matter. These are far more routinely scored by players far down the order. They also tend to have less impact on the game and can come at the back end of a heavy defeat. Players down the order often also have more licence to play their shots than those in the top five, so this market could well be won from outside the obvious favourites. For England, Moeen Ali looks well worth a chance at 14/1. He is a proper batsman, an aggressive batsman, and he'll bat seven. Seven's arguably perfect for this, giving time and opportunity for 50s, but also the prospect of being stuck with the tail and having to crack on with it. Moeen scored Test half-centuries in 49 and 54 balls during the English summer, and ended it with a 53-ball century in an ODI. Whether England do better than expected or worse, there will likely be opportunities for Moeen to do his thing.

Mitchell Starc to score fastest half-century of the series at 25/1

As above, but more so. Starc has nine half-centuries in 36 Tests – not too shabby at all given none have come batting higher than eight, where he will be in this series. Based on the squad for the opening two Tests he has a couple of weak links above him and a long tail below him, so any half-century he's going to get will have to come at speed. And he's capable; those nine half-centuries include efforts off 32, 45, 47 and 53 deliveries.

Joe Root to score England’s first century of the series at 23/10

First the obvious: Joe Root is England's best batsman and therefore most likely to score England’s first, second, third or whatever century of the series. But more than that he also has a remarkable record at the start of a campaign. Six of his 13 Test hundreds have come in the opening match of a series. He’s scored a hundred in his first innings in each of his last three series (and therefore in both his series to date as captain) as well as when he last faced Australia in Cardiff 2015. This looks another market where the favourite may be obvious but his chances under-rated.

Recommended Bets: Ashes specials markets

4pts David Warner to score fastest series century at 2/1

1pt Moeen Ali to score fastest series half-century at 14/1

1pt Mitchell Starc to score fastest series half-century at 25/1

3pts Joe Root to score first England hundred of the series at 23/10

Click here for our transparent tipping record

Click here for our Ashes outright series preview

Click here for our preview of the Ashes batsman and bowler markets

Check sportinglife.com/cricket on Tuesday morning for Dave's preview of the first Ashes Test.

Posted at 0930 GMT on 20/11/17.