It is off to Headingley for the third Test of the Ashes 2019 series. England showed a bit of fight to play out a draw in the second fixture, but are still trailing Australia 1-0 in the best of five series. That means there is no margin for error for the home side as one more loss and the tourists will be going back with the urn. Read our England v Australia Ashes 3rd Test preview for more.
England v Australia Odds*
England 4/6
Australia 11/5
Draw 6/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on August 20th, 2019 at 4:55 pm)
Have England gained momentum?
A decent day of batting (for the most part) on the final day of the second Test gave England a bit of a foothold in the series. After a declaration they had Australia rattled a bit as the hosts tried to skittle out the tourists to get the match win. So after taking such a brutal beating in the opening match of the series, have England gained a bit of momentum back?
Maybe. Maybe not. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow found a bit of form down the order on the final day at Lords in the second Test. They both played with a bit more relaxed freedom, Stokes getting a century. But the rest of the batting order still looks highly unreliable and the top looks very shaky. Rory Burns is at 9/2 to be England’s Top Batsman for the Headingley match* (betting odds taken from bet365 on August 20th, 2019 at 4:55 pm).
Bowler Jofra Archer made a huge impact coming into the lineup. He was fast and he was hostile which has given England a big new weapon in their quest to win back the Ashes. However, they can’t just rely on his output. Aside from Stuart Broad, there’s not been a great deal of back up support in the bowling department. Then there’s captain Joe Root who seems to be a little bit at sea with his field placements.
Can Australia survive without Smith?
Australia’s best chances of retaining the Ashes in this series was always going to be resting on the shoulders of captain Steve Smith. He’s been in phenomenal form with the bat and has carried the entire batting line up for the tourists. However, after getting hit on the neck by a fierce Archer bouncer at Lords, Australia’s captain is going to be on the sidelines for this one because of concussion.
That is a huge shift of dynamics in the Series. England just haven’t been able to get him out. Not he’s not even getting in, so can the hosts take advantage of that in Leeds? Australia are going to need their out of form top order like David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja to try and find some form. Marnus Labuschagne impressed though after coming in as a concussion substitute for Smith at Lords. He pretty much resisted England’s bowling attack to get Australia the draw as at 7/2 to be Australia’s top batsman* (betting odds taken from bet365 on August 20th, 2019 at 4:55 pm).
Predictions
England are treading a thin line at the moment. Would an earlier declaration at Lords have gotten them the win? Should Joe Root have been more attacking with his fields? Well never know but there are still two very weak batting line ups on show here and the Australians have a more prolific pace attack than England do. But still, England have to seize this opportunity with no Smith to repel them. England to win.
