Australia to upset Freddie’s farewell fling at the Oval
ENGLAND vs AUSTRALIA
TODAY 11AM – SKY SPORTS 1
HAVINGcrammed 4,542 runs, 1,211 overs and five balls, 13 innings and four Tests into just six weeks, nothing separates England and Australia heading into the fifth and final match of this fascinating Ashes series. With the outcome teetering on the sharpest knife edge the last chapter of yet another twisting and turning tale looks set to again be a cracker.
Andrew Flintoff’s fitness, or lack of, has provided the subplot throughout the summer, but the big man should take his place in the starting XI for a final Test tilt at the Aussies. Punters will need him to be at his mercurial best to see a return on England’s 4/1 to win the game on Betdaq. Minus fellow talisman Kevin Pietersen, he is one of the few remaining players the opposition are genuinely concerned by so everything will be done to have him on the Oval field – scene of the inaugural Test between these sides on English soil nearly 130 years ago when the hosts won by five wickets.
Back to the future, and it’s more recent form that will dictate what’s in store. Unbeaten in the last seven games in south London, England will be hopeful of avoiding defeat, so as not to lose the series, but, as Andrew Strauss and his men know very well, an all-or-nothing performance is required, with a draw seeing the urn boomerang back Down Under. Vice-captain Michael Clarke says the Baggy Greens will be giving everything for victory; they begin at 6/4 on Betdaq to triumph and I can’t see past them. Should they win the toss and bat first, I wouldn’t put anyone off buying (bet higher) their first innings runs with Sporting Index. They’ve got a 399-run first innings average from the series and that’s just below the 403 mean posted by the last 10 teams batting first here.
In what is effectively a one-off encounter, the buoyed-up Aussies also have, pound-for-pound, a stronger side, with more in-form players to boot. Mitchell Johnson has turned his series around and is showing the class Ricky Ponting knew he had all along. After skittling half the England side last time out he’s a good prospect to carry on from where he left off. Capable with the bat too, should he dismantle the frail England order again, he’s a good bet to be the showdown’s man-of-the-match at 12/1 with Hills.
England have their own bowler who can hold his own at the opposite crease and, at 20/1 with Boylesports, Stuart Broad stands a decent outside chance of being his side’s top batter if the men before him are once again cheaply removed. Another non-specialist who knows a thing or two about batting, Matt Prior could become a contender in the same market; he is after all second only to his skipper in his team’s series runs stakes. A generous best-priced 7/1 says he will be.
Pointers…
Australia to win the fifth Test at 6/4 (Betdaq)
Mitchell Johnson to be man-of-the-match at 12/1 (William Hill)
Buy Australia’s first innings runs (Sporting Index)
Matt Prior to be top England batsman 7/1 (General)