Hobart is the venue for the fifth and final Ashes test match between Australia and England, the game gets under way on Friday and although they are 3-0 down, England have at least avoided what had looked likely to be a series white wash
Australia won the first test in Brisbane by 9 wickets, they made it 2-0 with a 275 run victory in Adelaide and over Christmas they clinched the Ashes with an innings and 14 run victory.
The fourth test in Sydney was also under the control of Australia but England held on for a draw with their last pair of Broad and Anderson at the wicket. Usman Khawaja was Man of the Match with a century in both innings whilst England's Jonny Bairstow made 113 in the first innings and 41 in the second.
This was how the teams lined up in the fourth test and note Ollie Pope took over the wicket keeping from Jos Buttler (who has returned home) and Covid was also factor in player availability.
Australia:Marcus Harris, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
England Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Top Series Run Scorers.
Marnus Labuschagne 286 (7 innings)
Joe Root 277 (8 innings)
David Warner 273 (6 innings)
Travis Head 248 (4 innings)
Usman Khawaja 238 (2 innings)
Top Series Wicket Takers.
Nathan Lyon 16 (4 matches)
Mitch Starc 15 (4 matches)
Scott Boland 14 (2 matches)
Pat Cummins 14 (3 matches)
The Venue, Hobart
Over the course of the last decade Australia have won 2 and lost 1 of 3 test matches at this venue.
Results include Australian wins over Sri Lanka (137 runs in 2012) and West Indies (innings and 212 runs in 2015) and a defeat to South Africa (innings and 80 runs in 2016).
5th Test Betting
Australia are 11/20 to win the third test with a draw at 5/2 and England are 13/2
Labuschagne and Smith are 11/4 joint favourites to top score in Australia's 1st innings, Joe Root is 19/10 to do likewise for England.
The Verdict
I can see Australia putting England away but I'll look to the exotics for a betting interest.
Finishing an Ashes series as top run scorer or wicket taker is a title many players will be eyeing up and the run scorer crown is particularly wide open. Marnus Labuschagne has cost me plenty but I can see a return to form here and he is taken to be top Aussie bat in the first knock.
Pat Cummins could still stake a claim to be top series wicket taker and he is taken to be the biggest thorn in the England batting line up at the first time of asking.
Finally the battling qualities of Ben Stokes earn him the vote to score a 50 in the first innings.
Bets: Top Australia Bat 1st Innings Marnus Labuschagne at 11/4
Top Australian Wicket Taker 1st Innings Pat Cummins at 5/2
To Sore a 50 (1st innings) Ben Stokes? (yes) at 11/4
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Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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