Back Broad and Harris to make an impression at the Oval
Published:The Ashes might be dead as a contest, but there are plenty of scores to be settled in the final Test at the Oval ahead of this winter’s return series in Australia.
England are 1/1 to make it 4-0, while the draw and an Australia victory can each be backed at 5/2, but there is more value in the bowler’s match markets.
After a match-winning start to the series at Trent Bridge, James Anderson has faded, and the in-form Ryan Harris should be backed to better Anderson’ figures in the first innings at 11/8.
In his past five appearances at the Oval Anderson has taken 13 wickets, of which just six came in the first innings of matches.
Anderson has also only taken seven wickets in the past three Tests against Australia, while Harris has been unstoppable with 20 wickets to lie second in the overall standings in the series despite playing a game fewer than many other bowlers.
Harris has never played a Test at the Oval, but took 5/32 in an ODI against England there in 2010, with Kevin Pietersen and Stuart Broad amongst his victims.
However England can be more confident that Broad will get the better of Peter Siddle at 6/5 in the first innings after his spell-binding performance won the match at Chester-le-Street.
Broad took 6/50 in the second innings, but it is in the first innings that he has impressed against Australia at the Oval in the past.
In 2009 Broad took 5/37 in a crucial spell that set England up to win the match and the series, and fresh off his fine display in Durham, the 27-year-old will be hoping to drive England on to a 4-0 series win.
Siddle was also impressive in the first innings of that match, taking 4/75 in his only Test appearance at the Oval. But with Broad in better form, and Siddle playing second fiddle to Harris, the England bowler should outgun his rival.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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