Best Of Bets

Tag: Cricket Australia

  • 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: Middle-order man 11/2 for Top Australian Batter

    Ashes 2023: Middle-order man 11/2 for Top Australian Batter

     

    It’s cricket’s oldest rivalry and arguably the fiercest. The Ashes.

    As the First Test gets underway at Edgbaston on Friday, England look to regain the urn for the first time since 2018.

    Australia, meanwhile, are bent on more Pom bashing away from home as they seek to extend a five-year spell in charge.

    Held earlier than normal to accommodate The Hundred in August, a June start to the Test series will feel a little surreal for many.

    Nevertheless, Ashes fever is again at boiling point for a series that could rival the 2005 edition; a contest many feel is still the best Test series in the modern era.

    Lets take a look at the outright betting for the summer.

     

    Robbo to run riot

    If England are to regain the Ashes, their bowling unit must click.

    As both James Anderson and Stuart Broad play potentially their final series against Australia, England’s trusty old guard will be on hand.

    It could however, be the home Ashes debutant, Ollie Robinson who steals the show.

    Having sampled this contest 16 months ago, the Sussex right-arm medium shone in glimpses in New Zealand earlier this year.

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    Having blown away South Africa last summer, the 29-year-old in ready to shine.

    Taking 10 wickets Down Under last time out – despite injury problems throughout the series – Aussie scalps will be at play.

    For Robinson to be England lead wicket-taker, he is the current favourite but still at a decent treble-your-money 2/1 with BetVictor.

     

    A Head for scoring

    Basking in defeat of India to win the World Test Championship at The Oval this past week, Australia are on a high.

    Boasting one of their strongest sides in England for some time, the tourists’ batting order looks strong.

    In terms of the Top Australian Batter market, thoughts might turn to English cricket’s kryptonite, Steve Smith.

    Having surrendered the captaincy after Sandpaper-gate, Smith has still been part of a side to either win or retain the urn since the 2017-18 series.

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    However, though Smith put on an ominous ton against the Indians, it was Travis Head that stood out from the crowd, scooping Man of the Match.

    Part of the last two victorious Australian squads, Head was leading run scorer in 2021-22.

    Like Smith, Head notched a century during the first innings in the WTC final, putting on 163.

    Head has the feel of a player who will rise to the occasion in the Ashes and at 11/2 with BoyleSports to be top Aussie with the bat, Travis could turn heads.

    His chances of Player of the Series are equally well-placed based on form alone at around 12/1 (check your bookmaker for latest odds).

     

    Scottie too Hotty?

    Australia’s bowling attack looks in no less fine fettle.

    Indeed, it may well be the most versatile bowling pool since the early 2000s of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and the sadly missed Shane Warne.

    Spearheaded by the impressive skip Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood‘s fitness concerns however, could become an issue.

    Cue Scott Boland.

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    The man who made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test the previous Ashes series, Boland went on to take seven wickets including 6/7 in the second innings.

    Snagging a further 18 wickets in the following three Tests, Boland clearly loves playing the enemy.

    Notching five wickets against India, the English conditions will suit the Victorian down to the ground – especially if the ground stays firm.

    Looking one of the first names on Andrew McDonald’s teamsheet, at 4/1 to be the Aussies’ star bowler – again with BetVictor – Boland might be shrewd betting.