Ashes 5th Test betting tips & top odds – Hobart Jan 14-18

Hobart will host its first ever Ashes Test Match and it will be played under lights with the pink ball being available. This should bring the swing bowlers into the game and plenty of wickets should come from the fielders behind the wicket. Hobart has similar weather conditions to southern England and this should help the English bowlers get through their spells. Scoring runs during the day time shouldn’t be too difficult but the challenges come when the lights are turned on.

Australia had plenty of opportunities to win in Sydney but a more pressing concern is whether Khawaja should be dropped for Head. That would be a very brave decision by the selectors because Khawaja played to his full potential in Sydney but it’s a good problem to have. Cummins is captaining well so long as he doesn’t let things get personal when he’s bowling and Boland has been the find of the summer. I don’t think the Australians will let their ordinary day in the field on the final day in Sydney get to them.

Travis Head is a case of yes, no, maybe so at the moment given the fact that Khawaja did so well in Sydney. He should be fit and available for Hobart. He does well against the swinging pink ball because he can score off his legs and glides behind the wicket and he is sure to be hungry to score runs if selected. Steve Smith might not be regarded as Australia’s premier batter anymore but there are plenty of runs left in him. Regardless of his funky technique, he has matured into a highly mature batter who almost always contributes runs and is known for making good decisions with the bat. He’s one who knows when to hold and when to fold them.

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Scott Boland looked like the match winner in Sydney until a couple of dropped catches swung fortunes away from Australia. With a bit more support from the slips fielders he should be able to pick up plenty of wickets and he’ll love the opportunity to bowl with the pink ball under lights. Nathan Lyon for once couldn’t quite take out the opposition tailenders but his class was shown with 4 wickets for the match. Perhaps conditions in Hobart might not be that suitable for him but he can still do Australia massive favour by keeping the run rate down and giving the other bowlers a break.

England seemed to be somewhat rejuvenated and they put in a more respectable performance in Sydney. A number of batters showed good resolve after being hit and it was good to see Jack Leach in the wickets after a torrid summer. This will be Anderson’s and Broad’s last game in Australia and they’ll enjoy using the pink ball in Hobart. They’re very difficult to keep out once they strike the right length and both bowlers have plenty to say when things are going their way. Ben Stokes had a welcome return to form in Sydney but the pain and frustration of his dismissal in the second innings was on full display. He just hasn’t put together this summer but the signs are there that he can score heavily in Hobart due to the tenacity and timing with the bat he showed at the SCG.

Zak Crawley showed his worth in the second innings at the top of the order with 77 off 100 balls in the second innings in Sydney. He is capable of scoring a century in Hobart because he has the talent and the English style conditions at the Bellerive Oval should suit him as well. His highest score in Test cricket is 267 so obviously he can bat. Jack Leach had bowled only one maiden in the entire series before Sydney but he turned that around with 4 for 84 in the second innings. If he can lure the Aussie batters into playing false shots then he’ll collect wickets because too many runs have been scored off him off the back foot and with aggressive shots straight down the ground. Mark Wood has the pace to trouble any batting line up when he’s presented with the right wicket and the Hobart wicket can be bouncy. He should also enjoy the chance to bowl in cool and moderate conditions and the pink ball at night should be able to swing for him as well.

Australia vs England – Ashes 5th Test betting predictions

I expect Australia to win by 3 wickets or 100 runs but it’s tough to put money with the online bookmakers in the result column after what happened in Sydney.

Top Match Batter: Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja had the best game of his life in Sydney with a century in each innings and this makes him very hard to drop. A classy left hander who waits for the ball to come to the bat, he looks like nothing can stop him when he is in form and if he isn’t dropped then that can only spell more trouble for the tired English bowlers. I expect more of the same because he has been waiting nearly 10 years to show his full potential at the highest level that the game has to offer.

Top Match Bowler: Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins had only one period in Sydney when the pressure showed and that was when he was trying to bowl at the batters in the second innings for a few overs. Apart from that he had a superb game and he has now become a well respected captain. A bowler of his class should take wickets with the pink ball in Hobart because the English batters still haven’t worked out a method to resist him for long prolonged periods.A class act and I expect another high quality performance in favourable conditions.