Australia remain 1-0 up on England in the Ashes as the teams head into the third test match which gets underway at Headingley, Leeds on Thursday.
Although rain had a big say in the drawn second test match at Lords the game was not short on drama. Day 1 was completely washed out and batting first on the second day England posted 258 with Burns (53) and Bairstow (52) the top scorers. Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon took 3 wickets each.
Australia replied with 250 with Steve Smith in the runs again. Smith made 92 but he received a nasty blow from an Archer delivery on Day 4 which resulted in him missing the final days play and he has now been ruled out of this test.
The highlight of England's second innings was an unbeaten 115 from Ben Stokes (Man of the Match) but by the time England declared on 258/5 we were almost half way through Day 5.
England threw everything at Australia but despite Archer and Leach taking 3 wickets the game ended with Australia on 154/6 with Smith's concussion replacement Labuschagne top scoring with 59 and Travis Head was not out 42.
Earlier results:
1st Test Edgabaston
England 374 and 146
Australia 284 and 487/7 decleared
Australia won by 251 runs.
Series Top Run Scoers
Steve Smith 378 (3 innings)
Rory Burns 226 (4 innings)
Ben Stokes 184 (4 innings)
Travis Head 135 (4 innings)
Matthew Wade 118 (4 innings)
Series Top Wicket Takers
Pat Cummins 13 (2 matches)
Nathan Lyon 12 (2 matches)
Stuart Broad 10 (2 matches)
Chris Woakes 7 (2 matches)
Jofra Archer 5 (1 match)
Peter Siddle 5 (2 matches)
In the outright betting Australia are now trading at 9/10 (from 0.57/1) with WSB to win the series with the draw at 33/10 (from 5/1) and England can be backed at 5/2
The favourite in the series correct score market with WSB is Australia to win 3-1 at 5/2 whilst 3/1 to England is 26/10. A 2-2 draw is quoted at 15/4.
The Venue: Headingley, Leeds
England have won 3, lost 3 and drawn 1 of their 7 test matches at Leeds over the course of the last decade. In the most recent test match at this venue England hammered Pakistan by an innings and 55 runs in June 2018 where Pakistan were bowled out for totals of 174 and 134.
This will be the first Ashes test at Headingley since 2009 when Australia won by an innings and 80 runs.
Betting To Win the 3rd Test
England 7/10
Draw 5/1
Australia 2/1 Prices are an average of what was available at the time of publication but subject to change.
The Verdict:
I will focus on two England players for my interest.Joe Root has had a poor series so far but this is his home ground and he is still the class act in the England batting line up. Root to top score for England in the first knock makes the play.
I will also stick with Chjris Woakes in the Player Performance market with WSB. He was unlucky not to beat a very similar quote in a rain hampered second test but wth 1 point awarded per run and 20 per wicket Woakes has the capacity to score on both fronts whilst each catch would boost the tally by a further 10 points.
Bets: Top England 1st Innings bat Joe Root at 3/1
Player Performance, Chris Woakes over 110.5 with WSB
WSB, Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R10,000 here
