With the series level going into the final five days, Ladbrokes claims interest in its betting markets is at an all-time high.

Despite a poor showing at Headingley, most of the money is going on 7/2 outsiders England and their returning talisman Andrew Flintoff.

Flintoff - competing in his final Test - is 3/1 to be top England wicket taker, 10/1 to be their top batsman and 8/1 favourite to be man of the match.

He is 12/1 to take five wickets in either innings, 2/1 to hit a fifty and 10/1 to hit a hundred.

Ladbrokes are even offering 100/1 that he is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.

"We thought interest was intense in 2005 but this has pushed out the boundaries even further," said spokesman Robin Hutchison.

"This time England have to win if they are to snatch back the urn and we are laying bundles of them up and down the country.

"If England win and Flintoff is man of the match we'll melt all our betting pens and carve a huge statue in fond remembrance of the man who burnt the bookies."

Australia are 6/4 to make it two victories in a row and retain the Ashes, with the draw priced at 6/4.

Skybet.com has confirmed the Test is the biggest betting occasion ever in cricket.

"Demand is almost an exact correlation to the publicity surrounding the match and this has been big," Dale Tempest told Sky News Online.

"People think the Aussies will win the game but we are talking about the head and the heart.

"You may expect one side to win but bet on the other side because your heart is with them - that's what's going to happen here!"

He agrees the Australians are looking good. "They seem to be peaking at the right time."