THE EDGE: After the rain ruined the fourth Test, the final Ashes Test now has a much different look. The Edge preview includes a recommended BETDAQ bet.
MATCH OVERVIEW:
It’s been an Ashes Series for the ages, and we head to The Oval for the 5th and final Test on BETDAQ Betting Exchange. I’m sure no Australian will agree, but is it a shame that the weather got in the way in the 4th Test because we’d be heading into this final Test at 2-2 with everything to play for. This incredible series deserved that ending, but unfortunately the weather gods had other ideas and without much play over the weekend, Australia retained the Ashes with a draw at Old Trafford. England will no doubt feel hard done by, but they come into this Test playing some excellent cricket.
Bazball will have its flaws, but when it goes right England seem unstoppable. It will be interesting to see how fast they can bat on what is usually a good batting track at The Oval. What you’d say about this series is neither side will change their tactics – both of them will actually be very happy with their respective performances. The reality is that there really isn’t much between the sides, they just have different ways of going about things. Australia will sit in and wait for England to make mistakes batting, while England won’t see any issues pushing the game along. It makes for exciting cricket, and there’s no reason why we won’t have another excellent Test.
England will be very pleased to see Jonny Bairstow make some runs – it was unlucky he didn’t get to his hundred but a confident Bairstow changes this England side. Australia had to bat in tricky conditions as the bad weather crept in towards the end of the 4th Test, and their middle order held up very well. Both sides are in a great place and there aren’t many negatives for either. As we’ve seen over the last four Tests, it’s just about who takes their chances at the right moments. An exceptional Test awaits.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
How could you not keep an eye on the radar here after what happen at Old Trafford?! Thankfully the long-range forecast doesn’t look too bad at the moment, but there are definitely going to be showers at some point it appears. At the time of writing, it looks like Day 1 and Day 5 could be the worst hit. The Oval is usually a good wicket for batting, but everything tends to happen quickly here. We’ve only had one draw since 2008. Everyone will remember that famous draw in 2013 when Australia declared needing a win and England nearly won themselves. That’s the only draw in the last 15 Tests, and generally you want to bat first here.
RECOMMENDED BET:
It’s hard not to be an England fan at 2.41 here. They have played the better cricket for a while now, and have all the momentum. I don’t see the draw as a good long-term play at around the 4.2 mark – granted if the forecast changes and closes in like it did at Old Trafford it will become a good trade, but the way these play it is hard to see a draw without a lot of time lost to weather. I think this series has proven there isn’t much between the sides, so I’m not going to go mad with the staking, however England look value at 2.41. Their batters looked in superb form at Old Trafford, and if they carry that through to The Oval who knows how quickly they can score!
The Edge Says:
Two points win England to beat Australia at 2.41 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/EngAus5
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
First plan here has to be keeping an eye on the radar and seeing what trades come your way from that. That proved very fruitful at Old Trafford on Friday night when it was clear we weren’t going to see much cricket. The draw was 2.7 in the final over on Friday night, and went into 1.5! I would expect the side who bats first to have a slight advantage given the ground history here, however at the moment it could be cloudy on the first day which is good for bowling – I wouldn’t be very confident that bat first trend will hold if that’s the case. As I said above, neither side have any negatives coming into this Test there isn’t a player you’d want to take on so this one is just about playing the momentum and who has the better batting conditions weather wise when the time comes.
