England @ 8/5
Draw @ 3/1
Australia @ 5/4
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Events in the latter stages of the second test at Lords have injected fresh hostility into a rivalry that might have been simmering before but is now well and truly at boiling point. While it was perhaps an exaggeration from Stuart Broad to suggest Alex Carey’s controversial stumping would be all he would be remembered for, the memories of Bairstow prematurely trudging back towards the pavilion will be fresh in English minds as they march on to Headingley for a crucial third test.
The simple fact is Australia are 2-0 up and England must do the impossible and win all three remaining Test matches. They are 10/1 to do just that.
“Events in the latter stages of the second test at Lords have injected fresh hostility into a rivalry that might have been simmering before but is now well and truly at boiling point.”
THE WESTERN TERRACE AWAITS…
With rules regarding chanting, fancy dress and instruments all in place at Lords, the environment is one of a kind. The Australians know there will be something different facing them at Headingley. Similar to Edgbaston’s Hollies stand, Headingly contains the western terrace, famous for its raucous beer snakes and wild fancy dress. This week it will play host to a raucous cacophony of noise aimed at the Australian’s and supporting the Three Lions.
For five days straight there will be an atmosphere unlike any other stadium in the country. The 12th man will be vital to giving England the best chance of getting one back and getting themselves into a series where they have been second best so far.
CHANGING THE FORMULA
Without Stokes’ heroics in the Second Test, England would never have been close to getting a result. England need to change something to try and manufacture any kind of win in the next game and the team selection suggests they are doing exactly that. With three changes to the XI beaten at Lords, two tactical and one enforced due to the injury to Ollie Pope, it is a refreshed England side including Chris Woakes who will be playing his first test under the leadership of Ben Stokes.
The selection of Mark Wood is one which has been applauded as the Durham paceman comes in for his first appearance of the series in the place of James Anderson. Australia’s pace attack has that little bit of extra bite, and hopefully Wood’s inclusion will give England the raw speed to trouble the Australian batsman. He is 7/2 to be England’s leading wicket taker.
Harry Brook has been bumped up to the no.3 slot in the order in Pope’s absence which demonstrates the confidence which Stokes and McCullum have in the young batsman, and the odds support this decision with Brook 4/1 to be England’s top run scorer. This is despite two less than convincing knocks at Lords where he gave his wicket away cheaply.
NO MORE MR RELIABLE
One of the few negatives for Australia to take from the Lords Test is the loss of stalwart spinner Nathan Lyon who hadn’t missed a game for Australia in 100 Test matches. He has been one of the aspects of that Australian side which England have struggled with the most and even in this series where he has only bowled in three innings, he took nine wickets.
His replacement is Todd Murphy, the young off-spinner from Victoria. He is by no means a push over, but the difference between an off-spinner with 100+ caps and one with 4+ caps in spin friendly conditions in India is significant, and it is yet to be seen whether Murphy has what it takes to make it as a proven international wicket taker. He is 11/2 to be the leading wicket taker in this test, and with early signs suggesting it is going to be a greener pitch, it would be a fantastic effort for him to be the game changer for Australia.
THE SERIES THAT KEEPS DELIVERING
No matter where you stand on the events of the last Test, the entertainment which this series is providing, and the standard of cricket is at times the best it has ever been. If Headingley continues in a similar vein then we are in for another fascinating and closely fought five days with more drama and more contentious moments which will capture the imagination of the cricketing world.
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