The Ashes best bets for day two and odds: England's strong start undone by Head

Free cricket tips, best bets and analysis for the Ashes between Australia and England.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 2.30am Saturday

Scoreboard
Australia 241-6 (Head 101, Green 74) at stumps

Best prices
4-9 Australia, 6-1 England, 7-2 Draw

Story of day one

There may not be much to play for as far as the series is concerned but the first ever day of Ashes action in Hobart was by no means mundane.

England had their foot on the throat of the Australian top-order, reducing the hosts to 12-3 at the Blundstone Arena in less than ten overs.

But as has been the case throughout the entire Ashes series, England failed to capitalise and were made to pay after Zak Crawley dropped Marnus Labuschagne on nought.

Labuschagne responded with a knock of 44 from 53 deliveries, forming a stand of 71 with Travis Head at the other end.

The number three batsman was then dismissed by Stuart Broad in bizarre fashion, falling over at the crease as he was bowled, but his work moved Australia onto 83-4.

And Head, who scored his second century of the series with 101, made another influential partnership of 121 with Cameron Green (74) to put Australia back in control.

Both were dismissed before the end of play with the hosts finishing day one, which was impacted by rain near the end, on 241-6 and England left contemplating what could have been.

Star of the day

Green has started to look more assertive at the crease but it was Head who revived the Australian cause with 101 scored from 113 balls and he is now the top Ashes series runscorer with 349 runs from five innings.

Moment of the day

Had Crawley caught Labuschagne, Australia could have been in serious trouble. It was once again an example of a sloppy mistake having significant consequences for the tourists.

View from the camp

'It was great to contribute. I'm pretty disappointed to not still be out there but I feel like we're in a good position.

'It was pretty enjoyable. You can't make too many mistakes at 12-3. We were going to be ultra positive with whatever scoring we could get and tried to enjoy it.'

Travis Head, Australia batsman

Day two preview

Although Broad and Ollie Robinson started sharply with the ball, Australia's implosion at the crease was testament to how tricky batting conditions were at the Blundstone Arena on day one.

Steady Head managed to pull his side back into contention but now he, Labuschagne and Cameron Green have all gone, Australia are unlikely to build significantly on their current total of 241.

Bowler Mitchell Starc, although capable of topping up scores, is not a guaranteed source of runs while wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey has struggled at the crease this series, firing only 120 runs in eight innings.

Remaining trio Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland, meanwhile, have only 104 runs between them this series and England should feel confident bowling out the hosts for less than 321 runs in Hobart.

If Broad and Robinson stop bowling as short, they should get more out of the pitch at the start of day two and can come back fresh after the overnight break.

Best bet

Australia to score under 321 runs in first innings
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