Strauss is man to lead England counterattack

SPORTS BETTING: HANDS-UP time. I didn’t see that Australian victory in Perth coming, nor did a lot of punters.

From being Ashes down-and-outs, Australia’s cricketers suddenly found their belief and beat England easily in well under four days.

The bouncy Perth pitch clearly played a huge part in Australia’s win and the word is that curators at Melbourne and Sydney have been asked to try to produce something similar.

But that is much easier said than done.

Melbourne is not normally the quickest pitch in the world, while Sydney usually turns sharply as the wicket wears.

We shall have to see what the groundstaff at both venues come up with and, while England have clearly been shaken by the manner of their defeat in the third Test, this is not a time to panic.

In coach Andy Flower and skipper Andrew Strauss, England have two calm individuals who are measured in victory and defeat.

I have no doubt England will bounce back in Melbourne, but will it be enough?

This is a fascinating situation. Australia’s renewed confidence has been built on the batting heroics of Mike Hussey and bowling fire power of Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris, who were clearly suited to conditions at the WACA.

But there are still plenty of Aussies who can’t get their act together, most notably skipper Ricky Ponting and his understudy Michael Clarke.

Opening batsman Phil Hughes looks a walking wicket, Peter Siddle has faded after his bowling heroics in Brisbane and another paceman, Ben Hilfenhaus, seems to have lost his swing.

That said, England have worries of their own. Paul Collingwood is stuck in the crease and is a huge candidate for leg before wicket, Kevin Pietersen can’t seem to get his shot selection right despite that 200 in Adelaide, and paceman Steve Finn leaks too many runs and is unable to give Strauss control.

This is a series which really could go either way.

Australia have the momentum, but their fragile confidence could easily be shattered again by one bad session.

And England will know that a bad start in Melbourne could see their grip on the Ashes begin to slip.

Not surprisingly, the bookies are split, too. Australia can be backed at 8-5 for the fourth Test, while England are only 9-5 (Betfred) and the draw is a 9-4 shot.

Like many other cricketing fans, I will be cutting down on the Christmas Day eating and drinking in a bid to stay awake for the start of the Test at midnight.

And I hope to see Strauss lead from the front and justify odds of 4-1 joint favouritism to be England’s top run scorer in Melbourne.

He batted pretty well the last time England faced Australia at the MCG, scoring 50 of 159 in the first innings and 31 of 161 in the second.

I also like the look of Harris as top Aussie bowler at 3-1. He might not be as destructive as Johnson (5-2), but he is far more consistent and should not be a bigger price than his pace bowling partner.



RECOMMENDATIONS: Andrew Strauss to be top England batsman in fourth Test, 4-1 (general); Ryan Harris to be top Australian bowler, 3-1 (Betfred).



SERIES betting: Australia 13-8, England 15-8 (Betfred), draw 12-5.


CITY OUT TO 12-1 FOR TITLE
MANCHESTER City’s failure to grab the Premier League leadership for Christmas has seen their odds for title glory lengthened to 12-1 from 7-1.

City’s loss to Everton on Monday has been United’s gain and the Red Devils are beginning to look increasingly-hot favourites following their recent 1-0 win against Arsenal and the continued slips of Chelsea.

United are a best-priced 13-10, while Chelsea, who play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, are 2-1 second favourites for the title – the biggest price they have been all season.

The Gunners, can be backed at 5-1, and with boss Arsene Wenger unlikely to spend in the January transfer window, his squad might be exposed should key players pick up injuries.