Old Trafford has to be backed to be highest scoring ground in the Ashes

Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Old Trafford, The Riverside Ground and The Oval have been picked to host the five Ashes Tests between England and Australia this summer and it seems that a visit to the third Test may be best visited for those wanting to see runs.

It is the final Test at The Oval that is favoured to witness the most runs at 5/2, but the 7/2 offered by Coral for Old Trafford to be the highest scoring Ashes ground appears the better value.

The only previous occasion that Old Trafford hosted an Ashes Test since 1997 was in 2005, when 1397 runs were scored.

This was not only the most of the series thanks to centuries from Michael Vaughan, Andrew Strauss and Ricky Ponting, but like this year it was also the third Test of that particular Ashes.

In fact, Old Trafford has been the third Test of a series on four occasions since England entertained the West Indies in 2000 and on every occasion over 1100 runs have been scored.

A total score within this region is almost certain to be needed again for a ground to be the highest scoring in the Ashes and two things that will help contribute are a big first-innings score and batsmen who have a track record for helping themselves to runs on the pitch.

In the last eight Test matches at Old Trafford, only once has 370 or more not been scored in the first innings.

Meanwhile, England captain Alastair Cook and Ian Bell have especially impressive records at Old Trafford.

Bell averages 81 from his eight innings at the ground, with his total of 486 runs including two centuries and another three contributions of at least 50.

Cook has also scored two 100s in just six innings, with his average also a very healthy 61.