For lovers of Australian Cricket, the third Test at Headingley is the stuff of nightmares.
At one stage, England was all out for 67 and we were all having another good old laugh at the expense of the Poms.
Then all of a sudden, it turned into one of the most memorable Ashes Tests in history.
England won with an amazing turnaround proving, yet again, that Test Cricket is the superior format of them all.
Sentiment and wasted Tim Paine reviews aside, it’s time to forget about what happened at Leeds and for the Aussies to make it two outta three and more importantly, reclaim the Ashes.
The good news is – Australia has won three out of the last four Tests played at Old Trafford, it’s just that we haven’t played there since 2013 when the match was drawn despite a 176 run effort from Shane Watson.
There’s even more good news with Steve Smith likely to return for this Test Match. Along with the prospect of much-needed improved form from Dave Warner and Marnus Labuschange, the Aussies still look mighty impressive going into the Fourth Test, despite their underdog status.
With a bit of a break between Test Matches, the Aussies also had a good hitout against Derbyshire in a Tour Match showing no mercy and getting the win with just an hour and 45 minutes of play on the third day.
Steve Smith scored only 23 runs in the tour match but he’ll be raring to go, and the scorecard showed positive signs in the way of Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja getting half-centuries.
England may have achieved an amazing comeback, but the prospect of a hurt Aussie Test Team and Mitchell Starc returning to bowl could prove too much for them.
It is ever so important our Aussie team can come out breathing fire and make the Poms suffer after what happened in Leeds.
Happy to take Australia for the win, not just because I’m a patriot but that the $2.70 is a good value bet.
To the tune of Orinoco Flow by Enya
“Labuschagne, Labuschagne, Labuschagne..”
Beautiful.
From the Super-Sub to the reliable middle-order rock as the newspapers have described him, this could become the Summer of Marnus as the Queenslander cements his spot in the Aussie Test Team much to the joy of everyone.
A more reliable “Mr.Fix It” than someone that works at Bunnings, Labuschange has proven to be someone that can adapt and adept to batting anywhere he’s put in the order, as the Aussies look to reshuffle the first six going into the Test at Old Trafford.
While Steve Smith’s concussion was awful, it was a mixed blessing on behalf of Marnus who showed what he could do with the bat and seized the opportunity, as anyone who’s subbed in should.
Much question surrounds where he will be placed in the batting order for the Test in Manchester, but given his Mr.Fix it Handyman approach any spot should suit him just fine.
Be it six, five, four or three in the batting line up, I expect big things from Marnus who’s quickly become a favourite for all Aussie Cricket Fans.
At $5 for him to get some solid runs on the board in the First Innings, it makes for great value and one to back in for his reliability no matter where he’s placed in the order.
A Starc reminder to England as it will.
Mitchell Starc is yet to get the call up this Ashes Series, but you can expect he’ll be playing in Manchester and wanting to cause all sorts of trouble with the Poms.
In the most recent tour match in Derbyshire, Starc took a lazy 7/85 and was the pick of the bowlers, showing off to the selectors that he’s well and truly ready to do some damage this Ashes series.
The left-arm bowler surely has impressed Tim Paine and Australian chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns to get a Test call-up.
With the short break between the fourth and fifth Tests, many expect the Australian selectors to freshen the lineup which would surely mean Strac is back in action.
I’m confident that Mitchell Starc will be part of the Test Squad and getting plenty of wickets in Manchester,
He’s the equal favourite with Josh Hazlewood in this market, and the $3 is a decent price for a decent bowler coming back into the lineup.
Oh Steve Smith, how art thou?
We missed Steve Smith at Old Trafford and no doubt he missed us.
Another Smith v Joffra Archer matchup to look forward to.
The possibility of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne delivering an amazing partnership and Smith just guiding Australia to another amazing Ashes win as the Manchester crowd carrying on like pork chops as Smith brings us home another victory.
It can happen. It should happen and at the $6 it would be awesome if it happened and Smith gets another worthy man of the match along with an Aussie victory.