Coral’s five stars for best Australia Ashes series batsman accolade

With the 2015 Ashes, ever nearing, Coral writers provide cricket punters with top tips for the five-match series. We move on to the top Australia series batsman market.

The Baggy Greens are the 4/11 odds-on favourite to win, while even a draw at 13/2 will be enough for them to retain the famous urn. England, meanwhile, are 7/2 to reclaim the Ashes, and thus make it a fourth straight victory on home turf against the Australians.

Michael Clarke – 7/2
We start off with captain Clarke, and the 34-year-old, who averages just over 50 from his 189 Test innings, tends to do well when playing in England.

In his last three Ashes series’ over here, he has come third (2005), first (2009) and second (2013) in the Baggy Green’s leading runscorer charts.

Australia just so happened to have lost them all, so, England fans, let’s hope Clarke scores well again!

Chris Rogers – 5/1
Steady veteran opener Rogers, 37, has only four Test centuries to his name; however, three of them happen to have come against England.

Two were in the last series in Australia, where he managed a total of 463 runs, so is a tempting outside shout to be best batsman for his side once more.

Steve Smith – 9/4 favourite
Smith’s rise in cricket has been astonishing, as he’s grown from being an all-rounder to now number one batsman in the world, at an average of 56.23 now from 54 innings.

It was England who first gave the Aussie vice-captain a taste of hitting hundreds, as his first three came against them. Therefore, he tops the market to get the most runs for his nation as well as to be best series batter from both sides at 4/1.

David Warner – 3/1
Another whose game has improved over the years, Warner has a brace of centuries to his name against England, and was top series batsman last time out as Australia whitewashed their old enemy 5-0.

He has three hundreds in all form of the game this year for the Baggy Greens, and will be a great shout to win this market. Fiery Warner is second-favourite at 9/2 to be top series batsman.

Shane Watson – 9/1
In the last last Ashes series in England, Watson got the most runs for the Aussies, with 418 (second only to Ian Bell out of both teams), so his price to do so again is very tempting.

His preparation this time out has not been the best, though, as he recently managed scores of just 11 and 25 in Tests with the West Indies, though did get 81 against Kent in a warm-up match.

Coral’s betting tip – Warner always get fired up for the big occasions, so is a tempting price at 3/1 to be best Australia series batsman