Ashes Cricket 5th Test Preview – Thursday, September 12th at 11:00 am
The chance at regaining the Ashes have gone. But England still have one more test in the series to play. A win will at the Oval will at least see them tie the series and finish on something of a high note. Will they have enough to pull that off though? The Australians will be looking to take a 3-1 success back down under with them.
England v Australia 5th Ashes Test odds*
Australia 21/20
England 6/4
Draw 5/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on September 9th, 2019 at 7:01 pm)
Can England win the final Test?
At times it has been hapless stuff from England, other times it has been brave, gritty stuff. After the heroics of Ben Stokes at Headingley to pull England back to 1-1 in the series, the action moved on Old Trafford. It was another tale of missed opportunities for England, who just couldn’t find a way to get Steve Smith out again. England were really poor on the opening day of the fourth test, allowing the Australians to build a strong position.
It all boiled down to England needing to bat out the final day of action, but while tailenders Jack Leach and Craig Overton put up some great resistance, it was not to be. So the Ashes will be back on a plane with Australia with England looking to at least tie up the series with a win at the Oval. It’s going to be tough to lift themselves because you can see how physically deflated they were after the defeat in Manchester. England are sticking with the same squad.
Will Australia sign-off in style?
Australia have been the better of the two teams throughout the entire series and they have won the majority of sessions. Steve Smith has, time and time again held the entire Australian batting output on his shoulders. England are just yet to solve the issue of how to dismiss Steve Smith and his numbers are just phenomenal in this series. He goes as he 9/2 favourite to be Man of the Match* (betting odds taken from bet365 on September 9th, 2019 at 7:01 pm). That would be very fitting.
So while the former captain has held up the batting, the bowling attack of Australia has been phenomenal too. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood steaming is more than enough for any batting line up to deal with. Cummins is at 2/1 to be the Top 1st Innings wicket-taker for Australia* (betting odds taken from bet365 on September 9th, 2019 at 7:01 pm). They should have an extra spring in their step now the pressure of having sealed the Ashes is off.
Predictions
Australia have just been too good for England in most departments. Their seam-bowling attack is something that England cannot match up to and with England’s batting still not looking the most confident, there’s every reason to believe that the Australians will push to make it a 3-1 series success. Australia to win at 21/20* (betting odds taken from bet365 on September 9th, 2019 at 7:01 pm)
