The Ashes is Test cricket’s oldest and most storied rivalry — England versus Australia over a series of multi-day Tests. Its long format creates markets you don’t get in shorter cricket, from series prices to session-by-session betting, and the draw is always in play. This guide covers the markets, the quirks and how to bet sensibly across weeks of cricket.

About the Ashes and when it runs

The Ashes is a Test series between England and Australia, traditionally five matches each lasting up to five days, played over several weeks either in England or Australia. The urn goes to the side that wins the series, and it can be retained by the holders if the series is drawn. Series and outright markets open well before the first Test, with match and in-play markets priced throughout each game.

  • Series winner / correct series score: who wins the series and by what margin.
  • Match result: home win, away win or the draw over a single Test.
  • Top batter / top bowler: individual markets per innings, match or series.
  • Session and in-play markets: runs in a session, method of dismissal and more.
  • To retain the urn: the holders keeping the Ashes, including via a drawn series.

Our cricket betting guide explains Test, match and player markets in depth.

Format quirks that affect betting

  • The draw is real: unlike white-ball cricket, a Test can end drawn, so match-result markets are three-way. Bad weather makes the draw much more likely.
  • Weather and pitch: rain interruptions and pitch deterioration over five days swing matches dramatically — and are impossible to forecast reliably.
  • To win vs to retain: the holders can keep the Ashes on a drawn series, so “to win the series” and “to win or retain” are different bets.
  • Session variance: short in-play markets (runs in a session, next wicket) are high-variance entertainment, not an edge.

An each-way calculator helps if you back top batter or bowler with each-way place terms.

How to bet on the Ashes safely

A five-Test series stretched over weeks offers endless betting opportunities — series, matches, sessions, players — and endless chances to chase. Set a whole-series budget up front and divide it so no single day or session can drain it.

  • Compare prices across licensed books with our best betting sites and reviews.
  • Treat in-play session markets as small-stake fun, not a strategy.
  • Set a deposit limit covering the full series.
  • The AI Betting Finder can match you to licensed operators with strong cricket markets.

Honesty note

We do not tip the Ashes and we do not sell picks. Test cricket turns on weather, tosses and collapses no one can predict, and the confident long-shot shouts before every series are long for a reason. The bookmaker’s margin is inside every series, match and session price. Enjoy the cricket, keep any bets small and budgeted, and keep your responsible gambling tools switched on.

18+. Gambling involves real financial risk. If it stops being fun, take a break — play responsibly.