Australia vs England Ashes Tips, Predictions & Odds - First Test
Will Jackson 
After months of build-up, trash talk, heightened debate and injury concerns, the Ashes is finally here, getting underway at Perth on Friday morning.
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum's England side are hoping to win their first Test Down Under in 15 years, while Australia - who head into the series as convincing favourites with UK sports betting sites - will be licking their lips at the prospect of taking down the BazBallers.
Free Bets cricket expert, Will Jackson, has picked out some top tips across markets ahead of the Ashes, and will have a closer look at each game through the series.
Australia vs England Ashes Tips
Here are our cricket betting tips ahead of the first Test in Perth.
Tip 1: Australia to win the series 3-1
I think England have a genuine shot out in Australia this winter, I really do, I just don't see them getting over the line in the key moments.
They have not won a single game Down Under since the 2010-11 series. Even in the miserable tours in the 1990s and early 2000s, they would win the odd game, and that total lack of winning experience in the country will count at some point in the series.
For me, there are just too many things that need to go to plan in order for England to compete, never mind win.
They need Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope to perform at a level their career records suggest they can't manage, they need Harry Brook and Joe Root to do something they haven't done in their careers, they need Ben Stokes to stay fit along with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
And that's before we get to the form of Steve Smith, who has thwarted England so many times and looks somewhere close to his best.
England have the firepower and star quality to win at least one game, I just think there are too many question marks around the batting line-up and the way they were exposed against the extra bounce in New Zealand raised quite a few alarms to me.
I'll be keeping a close eye on Ben Duckett, Brook, and Jamie Smith against the short ball in particular. If they deal with it better than I expect them to, that 3-1 could be made to look a little silly.
Tip 2: Steve Smith to be the top run-scorer in the Ashes
Smith's return to form should be one of the most concerning things to England fans ahead of the first Test.
He kicked off his home summer with a century before a pair of half-centuries in a desperately low-scoring Sheffield Shield game where frankly, looked a class apart.
There is talk that at this stage of his career he has finally learned to balance his obsession with batting, and that more relaxed approach to the game has seen his game benefit.
He has four centuries in his last eight Tests. I reckon he will get a couple more and be the most consistent batter on either side.
Tip 3: Brook + Stokes top batter/bowler for England, Smith + Starc top batter/bowler for Australia - 221/1
This is a bit of a longshot prediction at the start of the series, but it wouldn't be an Ashes series prediction without looking at the team's top batters and bowlers.
This tip, while served up as an acca, also works split into singles or doubles, so take your pick but this is my take ahead of the series.
Starting at the top, and there will be so much focus on how Brook gets on on his first tour Down Under as the next superstar in the England line-up.
He has passed everything thrown at him so far in his career and I expect him to work it out in Australia too. Yes he will be targeted with the short ball and I think the big grounds and boundaries could mean he gets caught out occasionally as he keeps taking on the short ball (his technique of hitting from down to up will inevitably cause problems.
But he is good enough to figure that out and come through it. That can't be said for all England's players, but he is good enough to work it out and score big.
Joe Root is the other contender, and he may well get his first ton in Australia but he is short on runs going into the series and I think there are legitimate concerns with his technique against the bouncing ball on fourth/fifth stump.
With regards to the England bowlers, Archer and Wood would be contenders but will be restricted in how many games they play, while I think Gus Atkinson will be very useful on the spicy decks. He has the right mix of pace and wobble-seam movement, but he has been short of cricket.
That leaves Ben Stokes - although Brydon Carse is a dark horse - as probably England's best bowler in the summer and only guaranteed pick through the series should he stay fit. He has a lot riding on this series, and will throw everything at it.
In terms of Australia, Smith will dominate the runs in what is actually a very patchy line-up.
Cam Green has to come good at some point but will either bat too high or too low, Travis Head is out of form, the openers have big question marks over them and Marnus Labuschagne could just as easily have a series to remember as one to forget.
Smith is the glue that holds things together, and is in great form.
In terms of bowlers, it is a similar question to England.
Josh Hazelwood has had a lot of injury problems over the years and I can't see him last five Tests, Pat Cummins will miss at least one game and Scott Boland is unlikely to play all five.
That leaves Mitchell Starc, who does have a good fitness record. He might just finish top of the wicket charts by virtue of playing more than the others, but he might also enjoy bowling at Zak Crawley with the new ball.
Australia vs England Latest Odds
Australia are the pre-series favourites with cricket betting sites ahead of the game, here's a look at the odds.
Where to Watch Australia vs England
Looking forward to watching the Ashes? Here's everything you need to know ahead of the game.
TV Channel
In the United Kingdom the series is being broadcast exclusively on TNT Sports for live coverage of the Ashes Test matches.
Live Stream Information
You can also stream the series in the UK through the discovery+ streaming platform (which carries TNT Sports content) and TNT’s live streaming services, providing on-demand and live coverage of each Test in the series.
Start time
Test match start times will vary by day and Test location, and full daily coverage typically begins each morning in UK time given the matches are staged in Australia.
Fixture date
The 2025/26 Ashes series is scheduled to begin on 21 November 2025 and conclude on 7 January 2026.
Stadium
21–25 November 2025 at Perth Stadium (Perth)
4–8 December 2025 at The Gabba (Brisbane)
17–21 December 2025 at Adelaide Oval (Adelaide)
26–30 December 2025 at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne)
4–8 January 2026 at Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney)
