AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND: The Edge previews the 3rd Ashes Test on Tuesday evening with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Australia v England 3rd Test 17th Dec
MATCH OVERVIEW:
We roll onto the 3rd Ashes Test on Betdaq Betting Exchange with the pressure firmly on England as they trail 2-0! “Bazball is dead” has been a popular headline across Australia – even the UK media are pushing that narrative, which tends to happen every time his Ben Stokes side lose. The major issue for England has been the way in which they are losing wickets – loose shots and giving away strong positions easily has been reckless and in a Test environment that is always going to face criticism. It feels like Australia know that they can just play boring cricket, and this England side will do something daft to gift them their wicket or attack with the ball too much and gift them runs.
The bad thing from an England point of view is that statement is true. All Australia have to do is hang in there and something stupid from England is never far away. Harry Brook has been on the end of the criticism for some of the shots he has played, at the times he’s played them. I know that Root century in the 2nd Test was massive but he didn’t have anyone around him. The reality for England is that the batting has been very sub-standard outside of that Root century. 172, 164, 334 and 241 in their four innings in Australian conditions just isn’t going to cut it.
Australia haven’t been at their best, but their batters are getting into form nicely. That 511 in the 2nd Test was by far the best we’ve seen in this series thus far, and with England struggling so much with the bat it feels like Australia have all the momentum. England desperately need something good to happen; and they have the weight of the world on their shoulders with the bat!
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
We move to Adelaide for the 3rd Test; this is a wonderful place for Test cricket and there’s tonnes of history here. The first ever Test match here was an Ashes clash in 1884! This has really been a result venue – since 2013 we’ve had 12 Tests and we’ve had results in every one. Generally Adelaide can see quite a lot of turn late in the Test – last year India played here though and Australia blew them away for 180 in the first innings. I think Australia know on quick wickets the England batters are there for the taking so I wouldn’t be surprised to see another quick wicket.
RECOMMENDED BET:
With the ground history and the way England play Test cricket these days, I just can’t see a draw here. It’s trading 13.0, which is the shortest price a draw has been in this series thus far! It feels like this Ashes series has been played on fast-forward, and I see it being another shootout between Australia and England. Two times I’ve thought England have offered a shade of value, two times they have traded much shorter than their starting price, but also two times they’ve failed to get the job done. As I said above, Australia just need to hang in there and England do something stupid. From a long-term point of view, Australia are a confident bet at 1.56.
The Edge Says:
Three points win Australia to beat England at 1.56 with Betdaq Exchange.
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/Ashes3
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
It’ll be interesting to see what the draw price does here; perhaps with a quick wicket prepared it won’t turn as much late on. That might mean a reasonably flat wicket towards the end of the Test perhaps. However, will England even make it that far with their style of play? Apart from Joe Root – it’s hard to trust any England batter not to give away their wicket given what we’ve seen so far. In-play wise, I’d be keen to support the side that bowls first but from a long-term point of view it’s hard to see past an Aussie win to claim the Ashes. Could we see a 5-0 series incoming?
