AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND: The Edge previews the 5th and final Ashes Test with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Australia v England 5th Test 4th Jan
MATCH OVERVIEW:
We have the 5th and final Ashes Test on Betdaq Betting Exchange kicking off this weekend. You could make the argument that this has been the most dramatic Ashes series ever – not just one, but two Tests over after just two days. One is unheard of; two is incredible. A lot of the fallout after the Boxing Day Test was aimed at the wicket, especially with Cricket Australia losing so much money through loss of ticket sales on days three and four; but the reality is the batting was mental. That’s been the way England have batted all series to be fair, but with the series in the bag Australia decided to join them with reckless shots.
It’ll be very interesting to see what type of approach we get from Australia here – we know at this stage England won’t change! England have had a pretty terrible summer, “Bazball is dead” has been the cry from Aussies; it must have been nice for them to get the win but after the 110 all out in the first innings they were in a bad place. A 3-2 series loss for England wouldn’t be the worst outcome as they would leave with some pride, but they have been totally outplayed in my opinion. Despite getting over the line in a Test; their batters just haven’t come to the party. The century for Root the only highlight in a very tough tour.
Whatever happens, you have to say the series has been exceptionally entertaining. There literally hasn’t been a dull moment, even if Cricket Australia would have liked to see more cricket! The 4th Test was the first time the Aussie batting failed twice; I can’t see that happening again.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
We finish the Ashes at the SCG, and one wonders will we get a reaction to the scenes in Melbourne here. We might actually get the flattest wicket of the series; obviously the MCG has to have a drop-in wicket every season so you can never be fully sure what conditions will be like but it was rated “unsatisfactory” by the ICC and Cricket Australia lost north of $5 million dollars. The SCG has been a venue with a lot of draws recently too; six of the last eleven Tests here have finished with a draw. You can understand why the draw price is the shortest it’s been for the series here; however given the way these two play it’s still unlikely!
RECOMMENDED BET:
We have a very interesting market here. As you said above, the draw is trading the shortest price it’s been this series – that’s 7.8 at the time of writing and given the history you wouldn’t be too quick to lay a draw here. However, these two sides were rightly called reckless in the 4th Test and I can’t see England batting any other way here either – I would expect more runs on a flatter wicket from Australia though. In my opinion, Australia have looked the much better side this series and as I said above, the 4th Test was the first time their batting failed twice which I can’t see happening again. The 1.73 looks cracking value and I’m happy with a Five Star NAP on Australia.
The Edge Says:
Five points win Australia to beat England at 1.73 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/Ashes5
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
Trading this Test will be different to all the others given the history here and the draw price. Unless we see a quick collapse, I’d expect the draw price to not really go anywhere – in days gone by, the draw would be an obvious early trade on a flat wicket but I wouldn’t trust that here given the way these have played. I’m expecting a better performance from Australia with the bat, but once again I’m happy to take on England with the bat – they have been woeful throughout the tour. Taking them on worked a treat in their first innings of the 4th Test even allowing for the fact they managed to get a win afterwards.
