Fivers for 50s: Get a free bet when your England or India first inns top bat pick scores 50

The third Test of England's series against India starts on Thursday (10 July) and Betfair are celebrating by giving cricket bettors a first class offer.

Bet £5 on the top first innings run scorer for England or India and you will receive a free £5 bet if your chosen player scores 50 or more.

You can use the offer for both teams if you want to back a player for either side. Eligible bets must be placed before the first ball has been bowled.

Betfair punters had plenty of reasons to celebrate at Headingley and Edgbaston as the batters dominated.

Two batters for England (Harry Brook and Jamie Smith) and three for India (Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja) scored 50 runs or more in their first innings, delivering free £5 bets for bettors who backed them for most runs.

Will the batters be on top at Lord's too?

Here are two - one for England and one for India - who are worth checking out in their respective teams' first innings top batsman markets.

Smith aiming to continue fine form at Lord's

England's Jamie Smith rescued England's first innings, scoring a century from 80 balls, before going on to make 184 not out. He was also England's top runscorer in the second innings too, hitting 88 as he tried to save England from defeat.

The England wicketkeeper will aiming to show again how useful he can be with the bat and could be a good bet to be the team's top first inning's run scorer. Remember, if he makes 50 - as he did in both innings in the last test - you will receive a free £50 bet.

Back another captain's innings from Gill

Some cricketers rise to the captaincy and lead by example, while for others it is a distraction and stops them performing. The former appears to be true of Shubman Gill who top scored for India with 269 in the first innings at Edgbaston and 161 in the second.  

Now he leads his team at the home of cricket, with the opportunity to take a 2-1 series lead, and it would be a surprise if his runs were not a major factor in the outcome again. 

For more cricket stats and recommended bets, read Betting.Betfair's Ed Hawkins' previews of every England v India Test of this summer's series, and listen to Betfair's Cricket...Only Bettor podcast.

Watch Stick to Cricket Episode Three:Questions over Bashir and look ahead to the third Test at Lord's

Now read England v India Second Test Player Tips: Back Sudharsan to star and Woakes wickets