Australia vs England
25th December 2330hrs
Cricket – Australia – The Ashes 3rd Test
Pick Australia to win
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 4/8 odds taken 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021
England are once again in a world of hurt on Tour for the Ashes in Australia having fallen 2-0 down after two matches.
Dropped catches and batting collapses have plagued their efforts so far and not even the day/night fixture in the Second Test helped them out.
It’s on to the Melbourne Cricket Ground next in what could be the decisive Ashes match. Can England fight back?
Table of Contents
Australia Preview – Aussies in commanding position
2-0 up after two matches of a home Ashes Test series and Australia are sitting pretty.
In the second Test in Adelaide, Australia won by 275 runs.
That was a day/night match with a pink ball that was supposed to help England.
Even with a depleted bowling attack in that match, Australia skittled through the tourists.
In the match outright for cricket betting on the Third Test, Australia are 4/9 odds-on favourites* (odds recorded 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021).
For Melbourne, Australia should get their captain Pat Cummins back into the bowling line up.
Josh Hazelwood will remain on the sidelines.
As long as Australia avoid defeat in Melbourne, they will retain the Ashes, but they look hungry for a 5-0 series sweep.
At the moment an Australia 5-0 correct score is as short as 6/4* (odds recorded 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021).
To be fair, they are not meeting much resistance.
This is the first meeting in Melbourne since their draw with England there in 2017.
That was after Australia had won the toss and decided to bat.
In the last five matches between the two rivals at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia are W3 D1 L1.
It is twelve home Test matches unbeaten for Australia against England (W12 D1).
That’s a dominant record.
Three Australian players have tallied up more than 200 runs in this series with the bat.
David Warner is obviously one of those, but Marnus Labuschagne is another.
He is a 23/10 option to be Australia’s Top Batsman in Melbourne* (odds recorded 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021).
England Preview – Can England get it right?
It has largely been a series of woe so far for England and it’s not even past the midway point.
Batting collapses have happened in both Tests so far.
There have been a lot of dropped catches. A lot of strange tactics.
Their bowling has given Australia post big first-innings scores in both matches.
There is not much cheer in the England camp and the batting, in particular, is struggling.
Aside from the resilience efforts from Dawid Malan and Joe Root, nothing much has happened.
England are huge 5/1 underdogs in the match outright for the Third Test* (odds recorded 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021).
That just about sums it up as they have not been competitive.
Aside from perhaps Zak Crawley entering the fray, who only has a test average of 11 this year, there’s little England can change up.
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England didn’t have any real preparations for this Tour but should have a firmer idea of Australian conditions by now.
Can they mount some kind of fight back, offer something different?
It’s largely been a defensive-first kind of approach, they haven’t taken matches to the Australian.
For the England Top Batsman market, it looks like a straight choice between Joe Root and Dawid Malan.
The former is at 17/10* (odds recorded 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021).
Whatever lineup they do send out, England look, clear underdogs.
Australia vs England Betting Advice
Australia are just buzzing at the moment and have an enviable bowling attack that wasn’t at its strongest in the Second Test.
They just don’t look like losing a grip on a match at all.
There’s not much interest in the match outright odds, but the 6/4 odds on an Australia 5-0 series win at this point piques interest* (odds recorded 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021).
Key Facts – Australia vs England Betting Tip
- Australia are unbeaten in 13 home Tests against England (W12 D1)
- Australia have had a +200 first innings lead in both matches of this series
- Only Joe Root and Dawid Malan have scored half centuries for England
England’s bowling attack has at times applied good pressure on Australia in terms of keeping the scores down.
But they don’t look threatening and have gotten their tactics very wrong throughout this match.
It’s been bread and butter for the Australian batsmen.
The quote of 3/1 on David Warner as the Top Batsman who has once again looked imperious is the other option* (odds recorded 18:10 GMT on December 23rd, 2021)
The best betting odds for Australia vs England
Australia to win: 4/9 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at Bet365
England to win: 11/2 at Bet365
