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Tag: Ashes 2023

  • Ashes 2023 | Back England to end on 11/8 Oval high

     

    As the Fifth Ashes Test moves to London, England will look to deny Australia a rare series victory at The Oval.

    After weather put pay to their chances of regaining the urn, the hosts will be in no mood to roll over – if the elements play ball.

    The tourists have not won an Ashes series away from home outright since 2001.

    Will a weary-looking Baggy Greens take full bragging rights or can a deflated England level the series?

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    Ashes hopes doused

    It was all going so swimmingly in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford – before Manchester then did turn into an impromptu outdoor pool.

    Having won the toss and putting Australia in to bat, England had fortune in their own hands.

    Building a lead in excess of 200 runs after registering their first 500 this summer, the hosts seemed in control.

    As Day 3 began, Bazball was in top gear; Jonny Bairstow was electrifying; Australia were visibly labouring.

    However, in the distance lurked the sword of Damocles that is the British summer weather.

    Clamours for a declaration might have been heard earlier, but in truth, on a pitch that was still largely lifeless, Australia were happy to block – even at five down.

    When Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed to bring about Tea on Saturday, the extra hour proved academic as the predicted weather closed in.

    As Sunday arrived, a blanket of rain proceeded to park itself over Manchester.

    It was game over – the Ashes would stay Down Under.

     

    Hosts can play spoilers

    After outplaying the opposition last time out and now only able to draw the series at best, a doubtless deflated England will need some lifting

    However, winning the final Test will be the least the hosts feel they deserve.

    In 2019, England traveled to the capital with a 2-1 deficit knowing the Ashes were out of reach; the story is the same four years on.

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    As the absent Jofra Archer dismantled Australia, England won out by 155 runs.

    The Aussies, now with the urn firmly tucked into their travel cases, will not lack motivation either.

    With the chance of a first away series victory in 22 years, the tourists could yet stick the knife in.

     

    Anderson quandary; tourists could rotate

    For England, the big question ahead of Thursday is: will James Anderson play?

    Having struggled this summer, the veteran is far from a certain pick for the finale.

    However, in likely his final Ashes appearance, can England’s selectors deny arguably their greatest ever bowler a fitting send-off?

    Anderson, who turns 41 on Sunday has just four wicket this series.

    Yet, a huge part of four victorious sides – including the 2011/12 crop who won in Australia – the first in 24 years – can Jimmy really be left out?

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    If Anderson is omitted, the decision then is whether to bring back Josh Tongue, with Ollie Robinson the extra option, if passed fit.

    The former, posted season-best figures of 5-29 last week against Leicestershire.

    Moeen Ali looks set to continue at no.3 after a sterling showing in Manchester.

    In the case of the Aussies, retaining the urn has done little to disguise a side who are out of juice.

    That comes with little surprise.

    Come Monday evening, the World Test champions will have played six almost back-to-back games in the space of less than two months.

    Mitch Marsh and Mitchell Starc are Australia’s two main injury concerns.

    Reports suggest the impressive Marsh could be used as a specialist batter only.

    That would leave only four bowlers in the line-up.

    If Todd Murphy is recalled – as expected – Cameron Green’s void in the batting department could still leave the tourists short.

    Murphy, however, looks a sure thing on an Oval pitch which has often turned later in the piece.

     

    England marginal to level

    So where do the bookies see the finale heading?

    England have won three of the last five traditional end-of-series meetings at the Oval, with Australia victorious just once since 2001.

    The markets lean toward that statistic.

    England are 11/8 with William Hill to end the summer all-square, with the tourists 17/10 with BetUK.

    If, meanwhile, punters foresee another weather-dominated Test – even if not – the draw at 29/10 with BetVictor is the alternative choice.

  • Ashes 2023 | Faith in Bazball remains for pivotal Old Trafford Test

     

    Has the 2023 Ashes ruthlessly exposed Bazball as a weakness under the umbrella of Test Cricket?

    For now the jury is out, but as the Fourth Test of an exhilarating Ashes summer begins on Thursday at Old Trafford, England once more find themselves on the brink.

    Finally on the board at Headingley, the hosts need to win in Manchester to keep their Ashes hopes alive.

    Can England level the series?

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    Crunch time, again

    As the returning Mark Wood and Chris Woakes rode to England’s rescue in Leeds, the duo who have waited for their Ashes moment, delivered.

    However, Australia retain the upper hand and England’s task of winning three back-to-back Tests to regain the urn remains a tall one.

    Skipper Ben Stokes’ perennial heroics may have given the hosts a much-needed shot in the arm, but whilst beating Australia in successive games may now feel more attainable, England’s fight this week is against something far more worldly.

    Mother nature.

     

    Bazball can shine through gloom

    Following three scintillating games that have reached a suitable conclusion, Old Trafford is up against the elements.

    As Southern Europe melts in record-breaking heat, Manchester looks set to live up to an oft-disproven myth as ‘the rainiest city in England’.

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    Whilst for the moment Thursday looks dry, the same cannot be said of the other four days.

    Bazball might yet come into its own.

    England will need their accelerated, aggressive approach more than ever and arguably skipper Ben Stokes must win the coin flip.

    If successful, however, England can write the playbook for what is likely to be a truncated Test.

     

    Keeping faith

    Despite victory, the clamour for Ben Foakes to take the gloves from an errant Jonny Bairstow were loud.

    However, those calls have once more been ignored.

    With minimal changes made, England’s hierarchy are bent on keeping the faith.

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    James Anderson returns for his home Test with the hope that bowling from his own end will resurrect his summer.

    Moeen Ali’s move up the order to no.3 is the bolder move but whether it gives England’s batting order stability remains to be seen.

    For the tourists, the absence of Nathan Lyon is proving a predictable issue.

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    Todd Murphy left the Baggy Greens exposed at Headingley and coach Andrew McDonald is reportedly toying with an all-out seam attack.

    Following Mitch Marsh’s successful return to the fold, a fit-again Cameron Green could come back in with the forecast swaying any argument.

    But despite Australia tinkering with their line-up, the onus remains firmly on English shoulders.

     

    Can England level the series?

    The hosts are marginal favourites at 6/4 with Betfred for the win, with Australia 7/4 with William Hill.

  • Ashes 2023 betting: England, Australia set for Third Test shake-up

    Ashes 2023 betting: England, Australia set for Third Test shake-up

     

    There was controversy, and an overdue dash of Ben Stokes genius; it was another classic Ashes Test at Lord’s.

    After Long Room scuffles and allegations of ‘cheating’ though, the bottom line is Australia hold a 2-0 series lead.

    As the two sides travel north to Headingley for the Third Test, in sporting parlance, it’s now do-or-die for Bazball.

    Stokes and England will hope they can string together a fully coherent performance and put the Jonny Bairstow wicket debate (and the scoreline) to one side.

    What will be the next chapter in this enthralling series, starting on Thursday?

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    Replacements on tap

    To compound defeat at Lord’s for England fans, then came the sobering news that vice-captain Ollie Pope will miss the rest of this series with a dislocated shoulder.

    However, could that could deliver something of a silver lining?

    As disappointing as injury is for Pope himself, the Surrey right-hander has laboured.

    Failing to pass 50 against the Baggy Greens this summer, Australia are yet to bow.

     

    Step up, Dan Lawrence.

    The Essex batter may average less than 30 in his 11 Test matches so far, but given his big shot will be bent on proving a point.

    For the tourists, despite taking a tighter grip on the urn, the absence of Nathan Lyon due to a calf injury, is undoubtedly the bigger miss.

    Again on-song in English conditions, the off-spinner had hoped to hunt down 500 Test wickets this series.

    Lyon’s uncanny knack of snagging pivotal wickets leaves a big void.

    While Cummins’ side were able to hobble over the line at Lord’s, calling upon the inexperienced Todd Murphy could present issues.

    Murphy is highly-rated but at 22, has played just four Tests. England will be targeting him with an ultra-aggressive approach.

     

    Tactical changes

    Aside from Pope’s enforced absence, Stokes is set to make changes to his bowling attack.

    James Anderson has looked a shadow of himself in this series, taking a measly three wickets across the two Tests.

    With a run of back-to-back Tests, Anderson will be rested ahead a home return at Old Trafford.

    Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson are also set to make way.

    Stuart Broad remains a major thorn in Australia’s side meanwhile, as a healed Moeen Ali and Mark Wood come in.

    Chris Woakes is also in contention for a rare start.

    Having missed the raw pace that Wood provides, Ali’s position as frontline spinner and No.8 batter will give the hosts much-needed balance.

     

    For Australia, changes may be at a premium but coach Andrew McDonald could yet employ rotation of his own.

    Josh Hazlewood appears the the most likely to drop out, with skipper Pat Cummins and a rejuvenated Mitchell Starc holding the fort.

    Scott Boland is a possible recall also, but England would probably rather face him than Hazlewood at Headingley.

     

    Ashes betting

    With England in a must-win position and with needle now injected into the series, it all adds up to whet the appetite.

    Here’s how the Ashes betting looks:

    Australia are now as short as 1/8 to take home the urn, with England out to 12/1 with some bookmakers.

    For the Test alone, it’s 16/10 if you fancy England, with the Aussies 5/4 to go into an unassailable 3-0 lead.

  • Ashes 2023: England 8/5 to bounce back at Lords

    Ashes 2023: England 8/5 to bounce back at Lords

     

    As the 2023 Ashes Series resumes on Wednesday, England will be looking to bounce back at Lords.

    On the back of a damaging defeat to Australia in the First Test at Edgbaston, the hosts must respond at the Home of Cricket.

    In an opening contest that more than delivered on pre-series hype, the World Test champions scrambled home by 2 wickets.

    Pat Cummins‘ side now need just two more wins to not only retain the urn once again but notch a rare series win in England.

    Can Bazball shine in the capital?

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    Tourists edged to extend

    Not only are Ben Stokes‘ side now in adversity, England are also tasked with battling history.

    Wednesday’s sees the 33rd time Lords has hosted a Ashes game.

    Having revelled on the slope, The Baggy Greens dominate with 15 wins to England’s rather meagre three.

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    Given the drama the opening Test supplied, memories of 2005 have come flooding back, and the hosts will look to that for encouragement.

    Victims to another Glen McGrath masterclass 18 years back, England bounced back to level the series and are 8/5 with BetUK to repeat.

    Australia, meanwhile, remain 11/10 with BetVictor. The draw, a lofty 4/1 with 888Sport.

     

    Tongue-tied?

    After the withdrawal of Jack Leach from squad due to injury before the Ashes, seeing Moeen Ali sustain a finger issue at Edgbaston was the last thing the hosts needed.

    As Nathan Lyon took combined figures of 8-229, the spin factor on unseasonably dry wickets may become a decisive factor this summer.

    But with overcast conditions forecast this week and swing and seam set to dominate, can Ashes debutante Josh Tongue make an impact in St. Johns Wood?

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    Selected in favour of Renan Ahmed, the 25-year-old made his international bow against Ireland earlier this month.

    A perhaps surprising inclusion, Tongue’s 5-56 at Lords may have swung the argument, and it appears to have won out.

    After a rather blunted show from James Anderson and Ollie Robinson last time out, could Tongue star?

    The Worcestershire right-arm quickie is 3/1 with William Hill to be Top English bowler.

     

    Khawaja the form horse

    For the Aussies, Usman Khawaja finally proved his ability away from home as the opener grabbed his first ton on English soil.

    Capping two years of consistent form, the Pakistan-born number two with former spells at Derbyshire, Glamorgan and Lancashire shone at Edgbaston.

    Named Man of the Match for a first innings knock of 141, both the ever-obdurate Steve Smith and Travis Head were support acts.

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    Though Khawaja struggled at Lords in 2019 with a best of 36, he is very much the in-form man for the tourists.

    Looking at the markets for Top 1st innings Aussie Run Scorer in London, Khawaja is a decently-valued 9/2, again with ‘Hills.