England and Australia meet in the 5th and final Ashes Test starting at The Oval on Thursday. We take a look at the match from a betting angle.
AUSTRALIA RETAIN ASHES
Australia took the opening two Tests winning by 2 wickets and 43 runs respectively. England then bounced back with a 3 wicket victory in the 3rd Test at Leeds and it was all set up for a cliff hanger in Manchester, but unfortunately weather had the final say and the game was drawn meaning the best England can do is a 2-2 result and Australia as the current holders retain the Ashes.
4TH TEST WRAP
Ben Stokes won yet another toss at Old Trafford and knowing that heavy rain was forecast later in the Test he elected to field first. England restricted Australia to 317 with a number of batsmen making contributions and Labuschagne the top scorer with 51. Woakes was the destroyer-in-chief for the English getting 5 for 62 in 22 overs.
England knew they didn’t have time to build an innings and they came out firing scoring 592 off just 107 overs. Zak Crawley was top scorer with 189 at more than a run a ball and there were also big contributions from Root and Jonny Bairstow who was left stranded on 99 off just 81 balls.
All of the Australian bowlers took some tap, but Hazlewood was the pick with 5 for 126 off his 27 overs.
From that point on Australia were playing for the draw and praying for rain and a solid 111 from Labuschagne saw them achieve the desired outcome reaching 214 for 5 when the game was finally called off. Mark Wood had been the pick of the England bowlers with 3 for 27 off 11 overs.
THE OVAL
England have won 4 of their last 5 Test matches at the Oval dating back to playing South Africa in 2017. Their last game in 2022 was also against South Africa where they won by 9 wickets and Australia played here in 2019 with England winning by 135 runs despite been bowled out for under 300 in their first innings.
5th TEST BETTING – Click here to bet
England 13/10
Draw 3/1
Australia 31/20
Punters should note that while not as bleak as the forecast was at Old Trafford there is some rain forecast for this 5th Test.
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Suggested Bet: England win at 13/10
They will have to get over the disappointment of not being able to win back the Ashes, but England carry all the momentum into this final Test and as strange as it sounds given Australia lead the series 2-1 I think the visitors are on the ropes.
At the time of writing there are no best batsmen or bowler markets, but my bet will be Joe Root to be the Top England Batsman as he looked in brilliant form at Old Trafford and for the Australians I will go with Labuschagne who after struggling in the first 3 Tests hit form at just the right time for his country.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change