Ashes Third Test Tips: England Out of Luck in Adelaide
England’s Ashes chances are hanging by a thread.
Two defeats out of two have left them reeling and a win in Adelaide is essential if Ben Stokes and co. have any hope of taking the urn home.
Anything less than victory is curtains for England and Australia are well placed for yet another Ashes triumph.
It’s been 14 years since England won a Test Down Under and they have shown no signs so far of ending that barren run.
Here, we look at the Third Ashes Test and pick out three of the best bets for the clash in Adelaide.
Tip 1 – Joe Root over 37.5 runs in first innings @ Evens
For all the negativity around the England display last time out, Joe Root finally got a Test century in Australia.
His magnificent, unbeaten 138 gave England a reasonable chance in the game – one that they subsequently threw away.
Root’s poor display in the opening test with the bat looked behind him in the first innings in Brisbane, although the less said about the caught and bowled in the second the better.
England will be looking to him once more. One of the all-time greatest batsmen, Root averages 44 and this ground is one of his preferred in Australia.
His six innings have brought three half-centuries and a top score of 87.
Always a critical cog for England, they need him more than ever as they look to salvage an increasingly desperate situation.
Evens for Root to hit 38 or more runs in the first innings here is both a sensible shout and a crucial one for the visitors.
Tip 2 – Mitchell Starc over 2.5 wickets in first innings @ 13/20
Player of the match in the Second Test, Mitchell Starc took eight wickets overall – including a stunning six-wicket haul in the first innings.
Add to this 77 with the bat – the Aussies' top scorer in their huge total of 511 – and you are looking at a man on fire.
Starc to take over 2.5 wickets in the first innings landed at 13/20 last time and, at the same price here, you can’t look past it.
Combine England’s struggles with Starc’s form, and it looks like a no-brainer.
He likes this ground, too. Only Nathan Lyon and the late, great Shane Warne have taken more Test wickets for Australia at the Adelaide Oval than Starc’s 55. He’s bound to add to that tally here.
The performance in Brisbane saw him overtake Pakistan’s Wasim Akram to become the highest wicket-taker among left-arm fast bowlers in Test cricket.
Pat Cummins will come back into the side too, in yet more bad news for England, but with Starc playing as he is the hosts’ captain will be the least of their worries.
Tip 3 – Over 0.5 run outs in the match @ Evens
Stokes being run out in Brisbane certainly didn’t help matters for England, particularly with the captain seemingly getting himself in on 19.
Their penchant for a quick single as they try to pile on runs as quickly as possible means that a run out is always a risk… and it was the captain who came unstuck this time.
Though there was none in the first test, England did run out India captain Shubman Gill in the final home test of the summer, making it two run outs in the last two Tests involving them.
Famously, it was England who benefited from a run out in the historic 2005 Ashes win – Aussie captain Ricky Ponting dismissed by substitute fielder Gary Pratt – something that still doesn’t bring fond memories Down Under.
Pressure is building and the stakes are high. Starc, being in the form he is, can only increase the pressure on the visiting batsmen, who know that anything other than a win here ensures the Ashes remain with Australia once again.
Evens for over 0.5 run outs in the match is our final pick for this one, with England’s at times reckless batting, but lightning quick fielding, making it a distinct possibility.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
