Adelaide is the venue for the second Ashes test match between Australia and England England, the day / night game gets under way on Thursday and after a comprehensive win in the series opener the Aussies are firm favourites to go in again.
The Ashes will be decided over the course of 5 test matches and the first test in Brisbane delivered a 9 wicket victory for the hosts.
England won the toss and opted to bat first in the series opener and the decision backfired immediately. Rory Burn was bowled by Starc with the first ball of the innings and England were 3 down with just 11 runs on the board. Their innings ended on 149 with Pope (35) and Buttler (39) offering most resistance. Skipper Pat Cummins took 5 wickets.
Australia replied with 425. David Warner hit 94 and Travis Head top scored with 152 at more than a run a ball which also earned him the Man of the Match award. Robinson (3/58) and Wood (3/85) were the most successful England bowlers.
In England's second knock Malan (82) and Root (89) led a fightback of sorts but when they went the innings folded on 297 with Lyon taking 4 wickets and Australia (20/1) finished the game.
On the team news front Josh Hazlewood picked up an injury at the Gabba and has been ruled out of the second test. If the selectors opt to go like for like, Michael Neser or Jhye Richardson would step in. David Warner also picked up a knock and didn't bat in the second innings, reportedly purely as a precaution.
This was how Australia lined up in the first test.
Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
James Anderson and / or Stuart Broad are options the England selectors will be considering for Adelaide. This was how they lined up in Brisbane.
England - Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
Recent Ashes Series
In England in 2019 a 5 match series was drawn 2-2 and Australia retained the urn.
In Australia in 2017/18 England lost 4-0 (1 draw)
The Venue, Adelaide Oval
Over the course of the last decade Australia have won 8, lost 1 and drawn 1 of 10 test matches staged at this venue.
That sequence includes wins over England in 2017 (120 runs) and in 2013 (218 runs).
India beat Australia by 31 runs in December 2018 but 12 months ago Australia took revenge with an 8 wicket win, bowling India out for 244 and 36 whilst making 191 and 93/2.
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Australia are now 1 / 8 to win the series with a tie at 11/1 and England are a 9/1 chance
A 5-0 clean sweep for Australia is priced at 7/2
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
2nd Test Betting
Australia are 13/25 to win the second test with a draw at 13/2 and England are 11/4.
Steve Smith is 9/4 favourite to top score in Australia's 1st innings, Joe Root is 33/20 to do likewise for England.
The Verdict
England look up against it to me but at least Root and Malan made runs in the second innings of the first test and at the prices to top score for the visitors in the first knock preference is for Malan.
The recent test against India at this venue was low scoring and whilst a degree of good fortune may be needed I'll take my chances with no century to be scored in the match
Bets: Century to be scored in the match? (no) at 13/5
Top England 1st Innings Run Scorer Dawid Malan at 4/1
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Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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