The Ashes will get underway this week with the highly anticipated first Test in Perth – but who goes into the series as favourites?

Will Root break his hundred duck in Australia?

After three Ashes series in Australia, Joe Root has yet to record a century in there. Already secure as one the greatest of all time after moving into second on the all-time Test run-scorer list earlier this year, a century Down Under is the last milestone to tick off his list. He came the closest last series in Brisbane, where he was dismissed for 89 in the first match of what turned out to be a brutal tour. Now, no longer the captain and having been in prolific form since he was last in Australia, getting to throwing off that particular burden will be crucial not only to his legacy, but to England's chances of a landmark series-win.

What's certain is that Root is better-placed than he ever has been to make three figures in Australia, and that's reflected in the odds. Since the last Ashes series in Australia, Root has averaged 57.14 and made a hundred on average more often than once every three games. He's backed by Betway at 1/2 to make a century at some point in the series, 2/1 to score England's first century of the series, and at 6/1 to score three or more hundreds in the series.

Who will win the series?

This series has been billed to be the most competitive Ashes in Australia since 2010/11 – the last time England won a Test Down Under. With Australia missing two of their senior fast-bowlers from the first Test, England will be looking to land an early blow. England's last three series Down Under have all resulted in resounding series defeats, 5-0 in 2013/14, and 4-0 in both 2017/28 and 2021/22. However, under Ben Stokes' leadership and with one of the quickest groups of pace bowlers they've ever taken to Australia, this time could be different.

Australia still go in as favourites to retain the Ashes and win the series, however. England have only won five Ashes series in Australia in the last 80 years, and Australia are dominant at home. They're backed by Betway at 2/5 to retain the Ashes, while England have odds of 11/4 not to win any match in the series.

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