The British weather finally put paid to England’s Ashes hopes, but a win in the fifth and final Test will see Ben Stokes’s side level the series at 2-2.
Australia might have retained the urn but England can square the series and put down a marker, ahead of their tour Down Under in 2025-26.
- Match Betting - England to win
- England Top Bowler – Chris Woakes
- Australia Top Batter – Steve Smith
England Determined To Square The Series
It’s fair to say England have been the better team over the last two Ashes Tests and will feel hard done by that they won’t have the chance to win back the urn at the Oval.
The hosts would have gone on to comfortably win the fourth Test but for the wet conditions across the weekend in Manchester.
A 275-run first-innings lead and then having Australia 214-5 at Old Trafford would have ordinarily seen them cruise to success. The weather, though, pretty much washed out the last two days and England were left to contemplate what might have been.
They still have the chance to level the series and leave Australia looking for their first Ashes series win on English soil since 2001.
That stat is likely to be a big factor for England, who will feel that a draw is the least they deserve for their efforts in this series.
It’s also worth noting that England’s recent form at the Oval is good, winning four of their last five Tests at the home of Surrey CCC.
Australia have already played at the Oval earlier this summer, claiming victory over India there in the recent World Test Championship.
However, they lost their last clash with England at the south London venue, going down by 135 runs back in 2019.
England have decided to stick with the same squad that was picked for the fourth Test, which means they have options in the bowling attack.
Ollie Robinson sat out the match at Old Trafford, having struggled with back spasms in the third Test victory at Headingley, but could return. Another option is youngster Josh Tongue, who took five wickets in the defeat at Lord’s.
If the England selectors are to make changes to the bowling line-up, it looks likely that James Anderson will be the one to miss out.
Despite being his country’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, the Lancastrian has struggled with form in this series, taking just four wickets in the three Tests he has featured in.
Australia may also decide to make bowling changes, with Scott Boland and Todd Murphy pushing for recalls after being dropped for the Old Trafford Test.
Woakes to make an impact
Woakes Can Play A Key Role
England’s turnaround in fortunes in the series has come about following changes in their bowling attack, with Mark Wood and Chris Woakes making a big impact.
The duo went into the team at Headingley and since then, the Australian batters have generally looked uncomfortable at the crease.
Wood’s express pace has caused issues for the tourists, while Woakes’ consistent line and length has seen him take his fair share of scalps.
The Warwickshire man took six wickets in the win at Headingley before leading England to victory with an unbeaten 32 off 47 balls with the bat.
His performance on a relatively flat track at Old Trafford was even more impressive, with the 34-year-old taking five wickets in the Aussies’ first innings.
Figures of 5-62 were followed by the scalp of David Warner in the second innings, as well as five maidens in his 12-over spell.
Woakes, who made his Test debut against Australia in 2013, didn’t play in the Oval success over South Africa last year but has had previous Test success at the ground.
Despite England losing to India in 2021, Woakes took a total of seven wickets in the two innings, including the scalp of Ravindra Jadeja on two occasions.
Smith to finish the series on a high
Smith To Finish On A High
At the age of 34, this could be Steve Smith’s last tour of England and he will want to end the series on a high note.
Currently ranked as the fourth-best batter in Test cricket, Smith has not enjoyed the success of his previous tour of England.
On that occasion the former skipper racked up more than 750 runs. But this time around Smith has just one century to his name, a 110 in the tourists’ win at Lord’s.
However, the Oval will bring back happy memories for the Sydneysider, who has played there in four previous Test matches.
In seven innings at Surrey’s home ground, Smith has had seven innings and racked up three centuries – including a knock of 143 in the 2015 Ashes series.
The recent World Test Championship between Australia and India was also played at the Oval and he was among the runs in that clash too.
Smith made a patient 121 off 268 balls in the first innings, as Australia went on to win by 209 runs in early June.
It would be no surprise to see the former skipper hang about and frustrate England, as he goes in search of his 33rd Test century.
