Melbourne is the venue for the third Ashes test match between Australia and England, the game gets under way on Boxing Day and at 2-0 up Australia are in total control of the series.
The Ashes will be decided over the course of 5 test matches and after winning the first test in Brisbane by 9 wickets Australia made it 2-0 with a 275 run victory in Adelaide.
Australia put themselves in control of the second test thanks to Labuschagne (105) and Warner and Smith (both 95) in their bat first total of 473. England replied with 236 (Malan 80, Root 62) with Starc claiming 4 wickets.
Australia declared their second innings on 230/9 with Man of the Match Labuschagne and Travis Head both making 51. England were bowled out for 192 on the final day with number 8 bat Chris Woakes top scoring with 44.
This was how the teams lined up in the second test.
Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon
England - Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Top Series Run Scorers.
Marnus Labuschagne 228 (4 innings)
Travis Head 221 (3 innings)
David Warner 202 (4 innings)
Dawid Malan 188 (4 innings)
Joe Root 175 (4 innings)
Top Series Wicket Takers.
Nathan Lyon 9 (2 matches)
Mitch Starc 9 (2 matches)
Ollie Robinson 7 (2 matches)
Pat Cummins 7 (1 match)
The Venue, MCG
Over the course of the last decade Australia have won 6, lost 2 and drawn 2 of 10 test matches staged at this venue.
That sequence includes an 8 wicket win over England in 2013 and a draw in 2017
India beat Australia in December 2018 and again in December 2020 when Australia managed scores of just 195 and 200
Series Betting
Australia are now 1 / 50 to win the series with a tie at 25/1 and England are a 40/1 chance
A 5-0 clean sweep for Australia is priced at 37/20
England are 6/4 to win any of the remaining matches in the series
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
3rd Test Betting
Australia are 4/9 to win the third test with a draw at 4/1 and England are 5/1
Labuschagne and Smith are 9/4 joint favourites to top score in Australia's 1st innings, Joe Root is 15/8 to do likewise for England.
The Verdict
I'll look to the player runs (1st innings) markets and 2 even money shots. Marnus Labuschagne is in great touch and a quote of 39.5 may not be enough. Jos Buttler has dug in on a couple of occasions and 23 or more gets my vote
Pat Cummins missed the second test as he was isolating and given he took 7 wickets in the first test he is a lively contender to be top Australian wicket taker in the first innings.
Finally a Player of the Match pick and once again I side with Marnus Labuschagne
Bets: Player total runs, 1st innings Marnus Labuschagne over 38.5 at even money
Player total runs, 1st innings Jos buttler over 22.5 at even money
Top Australian wicket taker, 1st innings Pat Cummins at 5/2
Player of the Match Marnus Labuschagne at 15/2
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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