Weekly Cricket Roundup Latest Ashes Update T20 Blast Finals Picks

If you’re looking for the latest Ashes update and T20 Blast Finals Day picks, you’ve certainly come to the right place. 

In this week’s cricket roundup, I cover all the key talking points from the third Ashes Test before discussing the odds for both the fourth Test and the outright market. On top of that, I preview the T20 Blast Finals Day and share my picks for Saturday’s event. Last week we gave our update that included info on the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

The world of cricket continues to deliver exciting matches and attractive betting opportunities. Let’s start with the latest Ashes update and work our way through the rest. 

Latest Ashes Update – England Fights Back at Headingley 

England kept the Ashes series alive with a three-wicket victory over Australia in the third Test at Headingley, meaning the Aussies head into the penultimate match with a 2-1 lead. 

The hosts won the toss and elected to field before taking a handful of early wickets, but Mitchell Marsh’s 118 runs off 118 balls gave Australia a respectable total. 

Following an impressive 80-run haul from England captain Ben Stokes, the tourists were all out for 224 in their second innings, leaving the hosts with a run chase of 251 to win the match. 

Thanks largely to Harry Brook’s 75 – and some smart hitting from Chris Woakes and Mark Wood – England won the third Test by three wickets, setting up a fascinating end to the series. 

2023 Ashes Odds – Latest Ashes Update 

The latest Ashes update would not be complete without a look at the current odds, right? The fourth Test gets underway at Old Trafford on Wednesday, July 19, and the bookies have already released their prices. 

Odds for the Fourth Ashes Test 

• England (+129) 
• Australia (+142) 
• Draw (+367) 

As you can see, England is now favored to win the next match after triumphing last time out. The Aussies were the bookies’ favorites to win the first three Tests, but the momentum appears to have shifted. 

That said, the tight odds suggest that Australia will push Stokes and co. all the way once again. Let’s not forget that Australia is the World Test champion, so Pat Cummins and his teammates will be confident of returning to winning ways in Manchester. 

Latest Ashes Updated Outright Odds 

• Australia (-250) 
• England (+350) 
• Draw (+450) 

Since the Aussies hold a 2-1 lead ahead of the penultimate match, it is no surprise that Australia remains the clear favorite to win the series. After all, a victory for the tourists at Old Trafford would see them retain the Ashes. 

The latest Ashes updated outright odds have Australia at -250 and England at +350, while the draw is at +450. In my opinion, the prices for Australia and England both present decent value. The Aussie are in pole position, but England has the potential to win the remaining two Tests. 

T20 Blast Finals Day Predictions and Picks 

Now that we’ve got the latest Ashes update out of the way, it’s time to focus on the T20 Blast. Finals Day is at Edgbaston this Saturday, July 15, with both semifinals and the final taking place on the same day. 

Essex meets Hampshire in the first semifinal before Somerset takes on Surrey. The winners of the semifinals will face off in the final on Saturday evening, capping off another thrilling day of cricket action. 

I share my predictions for both T20 Blast semifinals below. On top of that, I assess the latest T20 Blast outright odds before providing my winner pick. 

Essex (+117) vs Hampshire (-147) 

The Essex Eagles defeated Warwickshire in dramatic circumstances to reach Finals Day, winning by two wickets with one ball remaining. Meanwhile, the Hampshire Hawks defeated Worcestershire by five wickets in the quarterfinals. 

It is worth remembering that Hampshire defeated Essex on two occasions during the group stage. After thrashing the Eagles by 118 runs, the Hawks claimed a four-wicket victory to finish two points above Essex in the South Group. 

Hampshire lifted the trophy last season, but the Eagles also know what it takes to go all the way, having triumphed in 2019. For that reason, the first semifinal is destined to be a close-fought battle. 

Best Bet: SIGN IN TO ACCESS PICK 

Somerset (-109) vs. Surrey (-121) 

Table-topping Somerset finished eight points clear of third-placed Surrey in the South Group. However, Surrey is favored to beat Somerset in the semifinals. 

During the group stage, Surrey defeated Somerset by 28 runs before Somerset made amends with an 18-run victory over Surrey. That tells you everything you need to know about the fine margins between the two sides. 

Somerset beat Notts by five wickets in the quarterfinals, while Surrey beat Lancashire by 13 runs. Since Surrey lost the 2019 final before Somerset lost the 2021 final, both teams will be eager to go one better this year. 

Best Bet: SIGN IN TO ACCESS PICK 

T20 Blast 2023 Outright Odds 

• Surrey (+188) 
• Hampshire (+240) 
• Somerset (+240) 
• Essex (+400) 

The bookies believe that Surrey is the favorite to secure the silverware. Hampshire and Somerset are both expected to push for the final, leaving Essex as the outsider. 

Ultimately, it is always difficult to predict who will triumph on Finals Day. The unpredictable nature of T20 crickets means that all four teams stand a genuine chance of lifting the trophy, making it tricky to pick a winner. 

That said, I can see the Hampshire Hawks defending their crown. In my eyes, Hampshire possesses the strongest team on paper. With stars such as James Vince, Ben McDermott and Nathan Ellis leading the way, the Hawks could soar to victory at Edgbaston. 

Best Bet: Hampshire (+240) 

Come Back for the Latest Ashes Update and Other Cricket News 

That concludes my latest Ashes update and T20 Blast Finals Day preview, but the fun doesn’t stop there. I will be back with more cricket betting advice and analysis next week, so be sure to stick with Sports Hub. 

T20 Finals Day takes place this Saturday, July 15, while the fourth Ashes Test begins on Wednesday, July 19. In the meantime, why not create a Sports Hub account and take advantage of our picks for a wide variety of sports?