England drift with bookmakers

England have been pushed out to 6-4 to win the Ashes after the apparent resignations of Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores.

Coral were among those to trim the odds on Australia winning this summer’s series to evens (from 6-5), with Ladbrokes going a step farther and making Ricky Ponting’s men 5-6.

David Stevens, spokesman for Coral, said: “Losing a coach and a captain is clearly a far from ideal way of starting an Ashes year, and with Australia returning to winning ways against South Africa, punters have been quick to back the Aussies to overcome an England side that currently looks in disarray.

“Some pundits thought Andrew Strauss was unlucky not to captain England in the last Ashes series Down Under, but as far as we're concerned he's the most likely candidate to get the job at this difficult time.”

Paddy Power make Strauss 1-6 to captain England in the first Test against West Indies next month, but those who were quick off the mark could have got 11-10 about that outcome with the Irish-based firm this morning.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “With Flintoff and Vaughan having had their go at leading the team the logical thinking is it will be Strauss’ ‘turn’. However this is England and the ECB and logic rarely applies. As such, you wouldn’t rule out a return for KP, especially with Moores also resigning.”

However, those odds did not survive long, especially after Strauss and Geoff Miller, the national selector, were seen leaving Lord’s together.

William Hill had been offering 12-1 that Pietersen would not be England captain for the first Test in the Caribbean but none of their customers took up the offer.

Rupert Adams, of Hills, said: “The fact that we did not take a penny on him not being captain for the Ashes shows what a big surprise his resignation is and the Aussies must be chuffed to bits.”

Comments

[garry nneville]

surely you mean evens to retain and 6-4 to regain
If it was evens Australia to win the ashes there would be odds for a drawn series