The Ashes 5th Test Review


Fifth Ashes Test Preview

It was only four days ago when Australia’s Josh Hazlewood rapped tail-ender Craig Overton on the pads to trigger a suspense-filled conclusion to the fourth test. Overton forlornly asked for the decision to be reviewed after the standing umpire had raised the finger. The TV umpire confirmed that Overton was England’s final wicket to fall in the 92nd over which was met by a rapturous Australian celebration, who by going 2-1 up with one test to play, retained the Ashes urn.

That win has seen the team led by Tim Paine become the marginal pre-match favourites to win the fifth test, edging England (6/4), at even money with the draw at 21/4. The hosts will be eager to put the 185-run loss at Old Trafford behind them quickly and bounce back to level the series at The Oval in London. However Joe Root’s men will need more from the top order with the bat, with a number of batsman guilty of not turning a promising innings into a significant one during the previous match. In their first innings it was opener Rory Burns (81) and the captain himself, Root (71) who failed to convert. While in the second innings, fellow opener Joe Denly got past fifty shortly before falling to off-spinner Nathan Lyon for 53. Root has been below par this series and has yet to reach the triple figure mark, making 3 half-centuries in 8 innings so far. If ever there was a time for an English top-order batsman to make a significant score then this is it. Punters can back anyone of England’s batting top order to come good in the markets below:

Player's Total Runs - Innings 1

Burns, Rory

Over 26.5 - 17/20

Under 26.5 - 17/20

Denly, Joe

Over 20.5 - 17/20

Under 20.5 - 17/20

Root, Joe

Over 30.5 - 17/20

Under 30.5 - 17/20

To score a Half-Century, 1st/2nd innings

Burns, Rory

Yes - 11/10

No - 4/6

Denly, Joe

Yes - 6/4

No - 1/2

Root, Joe

Yes - 4/6

No - 11/10

To score a Century - Innings 1

Burns, Rory

Yes - 7/1

No - 1/18

Denly, Joe

Yes - 9/1

No - 1/40

Root, Joe

Yes - 9/2

No - 1/8

 

On the plus side for the hosts has been their bowlers, with Stuart Broad continuing to trouble the Aussie top order, seemingly making opener David Warner his bunny, dismissing the left-hander in both innings of the fourth test for a pair (two scores of 0). 33-year old Broad has now dismissed Warner in no less than six occasions this series. If you think Warner’s torrid run will continue then you can bet on the left-hander to get another duck (0 runs) in either the first or second innings at odds of 6/1 or to score under 23.5 runs at 17/20. Jofra Archer, another of England’s star bowlers had a decent second innings after he had gone wicket-less in the first innings of the previous match. However the hosts have not found a way to dismiss star batsman Steve Smith before he has caused a significant amount of damage. The 30-year old returned to action after missing the third test, due to a concussion, and immediately made his presence felt with an imperious double-hundred in the first innings before following it up with a fiery 82 off just 92 deliveries with the Baggy Greens chasing a declaration in the second innings. Smith has now amassed a mammoth 671 runs in the series, from 3 matches, and doesn’t look like he’s slowing down. Punters can look to ride his purple patch and back him in a number of markets:

Man of the Match

Winner

11/4

Player's Total Runs - Innings 1

Over 55.5 - 17/20

Under 55.5 - 17/20

 

To score a Double Century, 1st/2nd innings

Yes - 15/2

No - 1/20

 

To score a Century, 1st/2nd innings

Yes - 5/4

No - 3/5

 

Top Run Scorer, 1st/2nd innings

Winner

13/10

 

In terms of personnel, England have finally gotten rid of explosive one-day batsman Jason Roy whose technique has been found out in test cricket. Seamer Craig Overton is another casualty and is replaced by left-arm seamer Sam Curran while allrounder Chris Woakes replaces Roy. This means there will be a reshuffling in the batting order which will likely see Ben Stokes rise up the order and play more as a batsman than an allrounder. Punters can look to cash in by backing the 28-year old, who has scored 2 unbeaten centuries in the series, to do well with the bat in hand and with more time to bat with other genuine batsmen around him. These are just some of the Ben Stokes markets that punters can look to take advantage of:

Player's Total Runs - Innings 1

Over 28.5 - 17/20

Under 28.5 - 17/20

 

To score a Half-Century, 1st/2nd innings

Yes - 1/1

No - 3/4

 

To score a Century, 1st/2nd innings

Yes - 4/1

No - 1/7

Top Run Scorer, 1st/2nd innings

Winner

17/2

Man of the Match

Winner

17/2

 

Australia will be keen to win an away Ashes series outright while England will be desperate to avoid humiliation on home soil. Whatever happens it should be a riveting test match with an abundance of live in-play betting markets to keep all punters engaged over the course of the five days.