Strauss backed to score runs

England’s captain Andrew Strauss has come out on top of a survey to find out who the public feel will be England’s top scorer in the upcoming Ashes series Down Under. The opener was England’s best batsman during his side’s successful Ashes campaign last summer, finishing with an average of 50 and finished top of the poll with 25 percent of the votes. His record against the Aussies is up there with the best, three centuries and four 50’s in his 15 matches have helped him achieve an average of around 40 when playing against Australia.

Behind Strauss in the poll is batsman Jonathan Trott who scored a century on his Test debut last summer to help England clinch the Ashes in the decisive fifth match. Trott has had a storming summer, including a double century against Bangladesh and another impressive innings of 184 against Pakistan. Trott has gained a reputation as one of the best number three batsmen in world cricket.

Despite not scoring a century for 19 months and a very public loss of form this season Kevin Pietersen is still thought to have a good chance of finding his form during this series after finishing third in the poll.

The batsman has returned from a brief spell in South Africa with a renewed sense of confidence despite not finding the form he would have wanted. The intense pressure KP will come under from betfair cricket pundits could very likely bring out the best in him.

Ian Bell is expected to pip Eoin Morgan to the number six spot in England’s first 11 and the poll suggests the Warwickshire batsman will be amongst the runs this series, after looking impressive since returning to the England Test side during last summer’s Ashes series. Despite never hitting a century against the Aussies, Bell has a good record with eight half centuries to his name.

Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior will also be hoping to find runs Down Under but the main batsmen will have the most pressure on their shoulders from those placing a cricket bet on them retaining the urn if England are to have a chance of winning their first series Down Under in 24 years.