England Drift As Tresco Goes Home

England have been lengthened from 9/2 to 5/1 by bookmakers William Hill to win the Ashes following the news that Marcus Trescothick will take no further part in the tour.

Australia are now 2/9 from 1/4 with a drawn series offered at 13/2. William Hill have taken over £200,000 on the Series - the majority of which has been placed on Australia with two wagers over £20,000. Kevin Petersen is the 5/2 favourite to be England's top run scorer.

"The loss of Trescothick is a major blow for England as his opening partnerships with Strauss were the foundation on which England won the Ashes. The only positive is Alistair Cook is now all but certain to open the batting and he could be England's ace in the hole," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

William Hill Ashes Series Betting: 2/9 Australia, 5/1 England, 13/2 Drawn Series.

William Hill England Top Run scorer: 5/2 K Pietersen, 11/4 A Strauss, 9/2 I Bell, 9/2 A Cook, 7/1 P Collingwood, 7/1 A Flintoff, 25/1 G Jones, 66/1 C Read, 100/1 A Giles.