Australia vs England Odds: Starc to run riot at his home ground

The five match Ashes series continues on January 4th and we have enlisted our cricket specialist @OddsTerrier to preview the 4th test in Sydney and pick out a few attractive propositions for your betting needs.

Happy New Year cricket fans! It's probably a good job I'm writing this preview the day before the 4th test and not in the immediate aftermath of the debacle that was the Boxing Day test at the MCG. I don't recall ever being as angry watching an England test side capitulate again! The innings defeat was even more comprehensive than the nine wicket loss in the first test and the 275 run obliteration at Adelaide. Needing just 82 to make the hosts bat for a second time, England collapsed in spectacular fashion and were skittled out for 68 in just 27.4 overs. Test debutant and proud Melburnian Scott Boland ran absolute riot with the ball and finished with the astonishing figures of O 4 - M 1 - R 7 - W 6.

Our tips for the 3rd test didn't quite come to fruition as Marnus Labuschagne had one of his few failures with the bat and Mark Wood was usurped by the GOAT Jimmy Anderson for England top bowler. Nevertheless, we have weighed up all the odds and stats heading into this dead rubber, with England desperate to salvage some pride , and here at BettingOdds.com we've picked out another three tips for your perusal. 

As always please gamble responsibly. 

Team news:

I left it to the last minute to do this preview as frankly, I wasn't 100% sure this match or the rest of the tour would take place. Covid has reared it's ugly little head again and has caused several scares. Under fire England boss Chris Silverwood was going to miss this test due to a close contact getting Covid but it's since been confirmed that he has tested positive also; batting coach Graham Thorpe will take charge for the Sydney test. In total nine members of the England support staff have contracted the virus and even the local net bowlers tested positive, leaving Captain Joe Root to brandish the side arm in the nets to provide some much needed practice for the England batting line up.

Australia have also had their own Covid-related issues and first test hero Travis Head misses out here due to it. In comes a 44-test experienced replacement  in Usman Khawaja, who scored a test century on this ground when the two teams last played here. The Aussies have resisted the option of trialling Leg spinner Mitchell Swepson with the upcoming asian tours in mind and Josh Hazlewood is still not fit to return, leaving the MCG star Boland, in the bowling line up. 

Australia XI: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.

England have declined to make big sweeping changes, possibly as they don't really have many other options. In comes 'caged tiger' Stuart Broad, who admitted his frustrations at lack of game time, in a newspaper article this week. Out goes Ollie Robinson, who is rested after a slight shoulder strain, picked up during the test at the G. The batting line up is given one more chance and is unchanged.

England XI: Haseeb Hameed, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root(c), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Remember back in my first test preview when I predicted loads of rain and a drawn test match that never materialised? Well we've got a very similar situation here and there could be upto 50 mm of rain falling on Wednesday. Sydney weather forecaster Olenka Duma said: 

“The next few days we’re expecting showery and stormy conditions to once again occur,” 

“It’s set to remain until at least the weekend, if not into early next week.”

However, this England team is in absolute turmoil and It could take as little as three full days for the Aussies to roll them over twice. Their bowling line up has the best xWickets rating ever since Cricviz starting providing statistics back in 2006 and this England batting line up is a mess. The openers look like walking wickets and the much vaunted middle order isn't firing. Ben Stokes isn't looking like a number five, Jonny Bairstow has barely played any cricket and Jos Buttler is a shadow of his limited overs self at this level.  Provided the game isn't a total wash out then it's a virtual certainty that the Aussies will keep the foot on England's throat and win again here. At a little over 2/1 I'm happy to take a chance on the weather. 

There were big doubts about Mitchell Starc pre Ashes series. Shane Warne, in particular, was critical of the big Aussie quick. He called for Starc to be dropped in place of Jhye Richardson, but Starc has dispelled any concerns in devastating fashion. Firstly, smashing into Rory Burns leg stump on the first ball of the series, which set a tone for what was about to come. Secondly, he has shown remarkable consistency and is the only pace bowler to play in all four tests so far. He leads the series with 14 wickets at 19.64 across the first three tests and I expect him to continue with that form here.

He is on his home ground at the SCG and is taking a wicket ever 43 balls - a ridiculous strike rate. We should find him in the wickets again here , causing havoc with the new ball. 

If you are wanting a bit of a longer shot then you could do worse than taking Starc as the Man of the Match winner. Not only has Starc caused problems with the ball, he is also on a bit of a tear with the bat. He has scored 117 runs at a 58.50 average, which puts him third in the Australian's run scorer list and he has a better average than any English batsman across the first three tests!

If he can chip in with a fifty along with a sackful of wickets then it wouldn't be a surprise to pick up the MOTM gong. At 12/1 I'll be having a small stake to cover that eventuality. You can place the bet directly using the link above. 

If you are following any of these selections good luck and bet responsibly. Try to enjoy the cricket....