Rule out the draw, Bowlers are set to shine on the WACA wicket
Published:Michael Beer may find his Ashes dreams are short lived when Ricky Ponting announces his side to face England in Perth.
The only specialist spinner is set to miss out as all-rounder Steven Smith and Michael Clarke will provide Ponting with the spin option, and Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus will be recalled to form the attack alongside Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.
On a wicket that has only produced three draws in 11 Ashes Tests, punters can rule out the draw which is priced at 9/4 and can expect the bowlers to feature heavily in a match which may not go to the fifth day.
Considering England’s recent record of throwing away leads, they did so in the 2009 Ashes series when allowing Australia to win the fourth Test before sealing series victory in the fifth Test and against South Africa earlier this year, Australia look good to register their first win of the series.
The bowling attack may be yet to gel, but in Mitchell Johnson, Australia have a man who has taken 24 wickets in three Tests at the WACA and he is 3/1 to be Australia’s top wicket-taker in the first innings.
Ryan Harris was the most impressive of the Australian bowlers in Adelaide and is 5/2 to be Australia’s top first innings wicket taker, but Johnson has been practicing every day since he was dropped and looks the pick of the attack.
While the WACA wicket is preferred for seamers, Graeme Swann will have the most impact for England after taking four wickets in the warm-up match with Western Australia at the WACA – he is 2/1 to be England’s top first innings wicket-taker.
Stuart Broad was the key man in that match and his loss may be a bigger blow than many England supporters are expecting and Australia are the fancied team for this match at 13/8.
A £10 stake on Johnson taking the most wickets in the third Test would return £70. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.
