
England vs. Australia Ashes Second Test Betting Specials: Three tips for an epic Lord's clash

We are set for a mouth-watering second Ashes Test match at Lord's, which gets under way on Wednesday morning at 11:00am as Australia look to take a 2-0 lead after an epic first test at Edgbaston saw the Baggy Greens take a 1-0 advantage.
We already have our England vs Australia 2nd Test Preview available on site, but there are a host of special bets and markets on offer, so we have picked out some eye-catching tips for the second Test of an epic five-Test series...
Joe Root - Top England Runscorer @ 16/5
England's talisman Joe Root produced a sparkling performance with the bat in the first innings of the first Test as the former England captain knocked a quite beautiful 118 not out.
With an average of 52.50 at Lord's it would be no surprise to see the Yorkshireman pile on the runs once again. He dealt with Australia's quick bowlers with a real air of dominance, while he suffered no major problems with the spin of Nathan Lyon as he serenely strode to a century.
Unsurprisingly, Root is heading the betting to be Top England Runscorer in the first innings at Lord's and while he's only available at 16/5 with BetVictor that's a solid bet as he's no doubt the best batsman on show for Ben Stokes' side.
While his false shots and willingness to play the reverse scoop to the quicks will give you slight cause for concern, he showed his ability at the crease at Edgbaston. So, if England are to tie the series then Root is needed to score big and he can do just that in the second Test.
Alex Carey - Player Performance - Over 109.5pts @ 5/6
During the glory years of Australian cricket in the 1990s and 2000s a certain Adam Gilchrist would come in and take the game away from their opponents with a swashbuckling batting style. Well, while Alex Carey may not be from the same mould as 'Gilly', he's a real world class number seven and equally assured with the gloves and was marvellous during the first Test match at Edgbaston.
Amassing 94 runs across the two innings - which included a fine half century in the first - Carey also took six catches and three stumpings as he provided a real steady pair of hands behind the stumps.
Undoubtedly the far superior wicket keeper on show, Carey is arguably Australia's leading all-rounder and for him to amass over 109.5pts at 5/6 looks too good to miss.
For those not up to speed with player performance, you get 1pt for each run scored with the bat, while 10pts for a catch and 25pts for a stumping. With England's batsmen often seen running at the ball then stumpings are always on the menu, so with the dangling carrot of 25pts a stumping then Carey can soar past 109.5pts.
First Ball To Be Hit For Four @ 20/1
Will lightning strike twice? Well, why not!
Zak Crawley's exquisite drive through the covers off a rising Pat Cummins delivery saw the Ashes explode with an iconic first ball as the ball crashed into the boundary rope and saw England get off the mark with a sumptuous four.
Well, Paddy Power are offering 20/1 for the first ball of the second Test to be hit for four and who's to say it won't happen again?
We've already seen Crawley attack from the first ball at Edgbaston, so if England bat first then you have a lively runner, while David Warner faced the first ball in Australia's first innings and the swashbuckling left-hander has been known to let his hands go at anything wide of off stump, so why not take a chance on a four being hit first ball at Lord's.

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