The Ashes concludes in Sydney with the New Year’s Test, with Australia looking to secure a 4-1 series victory. England will come in with confidence after winning a Test in Australia for the first time in fourteen years, can they do it again?
Jack Tobin brings you his full preview and betting tips for the 2nd Test of the Ashes below, with odds thanks to Neds!
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Australia vs England 5th Test Preview & Betting Tips
SCG, Sunday 4th January, 10:30am AEDT
Australia
Squad: Steve Smith, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
A complacent performance with the bat in Melbourne led to Australia’s first defeat in a home Ashes Test since 2011, in one of the shortest Tests ever on Australian soil. Australia will have some selection questions to ponder, with Cameron Green failing again with the bat and Jhye Richardson looking well and truly underdone during the Boxing Day Test. One thing that is certain, is that this will be Usman Khawaja’s last Test, with the veteran confirming on Friday he will be retiring at the end of the series.
Australia were rolled for 152 and 132 at the MCG and although the pitch wasn’t great for batting, the application from the Australians was subpar. Michael Neser top scored in the first innings with 35, while Travis Head was the only player to score above 25 in the second innings as he scored 46. Australia need a lift from opener Jake Weatherald, who could be batting for his career in Sydney, having scored only 146 runs at an average of 20.85 this series. Weatherald only has one score above 24 this series.
The Australian bowlers did all they could with limited backing from their batsmen, bowling out England for 110 in the final session of day one to give the Aussies a lead on first innings. Michael Neser (4/45) Scott Boland (3/20) and Mitchell Starc (2/23) did a great job salvaging a poor batting performance in the first innings, and they did a solid job in the second innings, however 175 was never going to be enough runs to play with for the Aussies.
England
Squad: Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher
After fourteen long years, England have finally won a Test match in Australia, after a dramatic two day Test in Melbourne. England’s bowling attack produced their best performance of the series, exploiting the seam friendly conditions to bowl Australia out twice for under 153 in two days. Josh Tongue took 5/45 in the first innings in a man of the match performance, while Brydon Carse (4/34) and Ben Stokes (3/24) led the way with the ball in the second innings. Unfortunately for England their pace stocks took another hit, with Gus Atkinson ruled out for the final Test with a hamstring strain.
Given the low scoring nature of the Test match, England’s batting unit did a great job in the second innings to ensure Australia never had a sniff. Zak Crawley (37) and Ben Duckett (34) put on 51 for the opening wicket in just seven overs, while Jacob Bethell kept up the momentum with 40 off just 46 deliveries batting at number four.
England will need their bowling attack to put in another stellar performance if they are to pick up a second victory in the series, but it’s hard to trust the attack given their inconsistency across the series. England will need control from their bowling attack given they will be lacking pace with no Wood, Archer or Atkinson, while their lack of a genuine spinner could hurt them badly in Sydney.
Match Prediction
Australia will be bitterly disappointed by their efforts in Melbourne, and will be desperate to ensure their dominance in the series is reflected in a 4-1 series win. The SCG has been a happy hunting ground for the Aussies, going unbeaten in their last fourteen Tests at the venue with eight wins and six draws at the Sydney Cricket Ground. England’s bowling attack is depleted with no Archer, Wood and Atkinson so backing up with another strong performance seems unlikely given England’s inconsistency across the series.
Australia have been the best Test side in the world over the past four years, and they have been able to bounce back from rare losses, as was shown last summer against India. Australia have well and truly been the better side this series and it took an extreme pitch in Melbourne for them to lose a game, expect a big bounce back performance in Sydney to claim a 4-1 series win.
Australia to Win
$1.64 (1.5 Units)
The Ashes 5th Test Prop Bet
While he has a reputation for being an MCG specialist, Scott Boland’s work at the SCG is equally impressive. In two matches at the SCG, Boland has taken a remarkable 17 wickets at an average of 8.35. Boland’s four innings at the SCG have produced returns of 4/36, 3/30, 4/31 and 6/45. Boland has 16 wickets at an average of 23 this series, and will finish with another big performance at the SCG.
Scott Boland: Top Australia 1st Innings Bowler
$3.50
