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Best odds & Ashes tips for Australia vs. England 2nd Test

  • MATCH UP STATS

    Ashes 2017/18 - Second Test

    • Series odds

      Australia: $1.20 at William Hill
      England: $8 at Sportsbet

Saturday, December 2, 2017 – 2pm ACST (2:30pm AEDT) – Adelaide Oval

AUSTRALIA have all the momentum heading into the first day-night Test in Ashes history this weekend.

Steve Smith, David Warner and debutant Cameron Bancroft starred with the bat to clinch a 10-wicket victory in Brisbane, yet questions marks remain over what some pundits have dubbed a “fragile” batting order.

One man in the firing line is Usman Khawaja, whose problems against spin bowling were exposed again with a weak dismissal to Moeen Ali in the first innings.

The man himself is not all that bothered as he returns to the scene of arguably his finest Test knock – a crucial 145 in difficult conditions against South Africa last year.

“I’m really happy with where I’m at,” Khawaja told reporters in Adelaide.

“I’m really enjoying my cricket this year as I have in the previous years and fortunately scored a lot of runs for Queensland.

“Coming into this Test series, 1-0 up, it’s all I can really ask for. We’re winning cricket games, I’m happy.

“Obviously, I would’ve liked to contribute a bit more last game but the innings Smudge [Steven Smith] played was outstanding and then the way we backed that up was excellent.

“For me that’s what’s so important.”

Get on at Neds

There is immense pressure on England to perform amid a brewing storm of off-field drama, most notably surrounding wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and his controversial greeting of Bancroft on a night out in Perth a few weeks ago.

With the shadow of the Ben Stokes incident still lingering heavily over the visitors, some have called for the squad to be placed on a total alcohol ban and a midnight curfew for the remainder of the tour.

Although ECB director Andrew Strauss had a few stern words for the playing group upon the conclusion of the first Test, he has brushed off the notion of an ingrained culture problem that needs stamping out.

“These guys are not thugs,” the former England captain said earlier this week.

“These are good, honest, hard-working cricketers who sacrifice a lot to play for England.

“They’ve done some great things in an England shirt and I will back them on that to the hilt because I know them.

“But the perception of them and the reality is different at the moment and we’ve got to take steps to make sure that reality is what people perceive of the England cricket team, not something different.

“The last thing any of us want is to be in the news for the wrong reasons and I will clearly be reminding the players of their obligations.

“I think the players needs to be smarter. That’s the reality, they are adults, intelligent adults, and at times they are not using that intelligence in the right way.”

Steve Smith betting specials

Australia’s superstar skipper was the difference in Brisbane.

As the batting order crumbled around him, Smith dug in for the most dogged ton of his career to give the hosts a first-innings lead from nowhere.

That unbeaten 141 at the Gabba puts him top of the series runscoring charts, and Sportsbet.com.au has him at $2.50 odds to remain there.

Smith has been dismissed for under 40 only twice in eight Test innings at Adelaide, so all the form is there.

Sportsbet.com.au

James Anderson Ashes odds

England’s all-time leading wicket-taker was well short of his best in the first Test.

A sore shoulder did not help, nor did the uncharacteristic lack of movement on a sluggish Gabba wicket.

However, the lively conditions under lights at Adelaide Oval could make him an absolute nightmare for the Aussie bats – especially if he gets the chance to bowl with a new rock in the evening session.

If that eventuates, those $9 odds for a five-wicket haul will begin to look very tasty indeed.

Australia vs. England match prediction

This is not quite the Adelaide featherbed of old.

Since Damien Hough took charge of the wicket a few years ago, one of the world’s easiest batting strips has begun to produce some very interesting contests between blade and ball.

That is especially true of the last two years, when the pink Kookaburra has given the seamers plenty to work with as the day wears on.

With those factors in mind, we are inclined to rule out a draw – so often the go-to option at this venue.

Australia are in high spirits and have a few players in fine form, but they also have several blokes eager to make an impact after ordinary efforts last time out.

England showed plenty of promise in the first innings at the Gabba, especially in top-order bats Mark Stoneman and James Vince, but that was rather undercut by a second dig littered with cheap outs and a bowling attack that lacked a bit of pace and quality.

Expect a few momentum swings before the Aussies wrap up a tight, relatively low-scoring affair inside four days.

Steve Smith top batsman/Australia to win$5.50 at William Hill

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