ENG vs AUS 3rd Test Match Prediction

ENG vs AUS Team Previews

England

England has stayed true to its word in the series so far. It has been aggressive with the bat and tried to take the game on but it has not always been the smartest. There have been more than a couple of occasions already where England has let strong positions go.

Will there be anything this time around? We don't think so. 

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have been in good form and have taken full toll on the flat pitches. They have provided good starts with the bat but have not been really ruthless. Crawley has just one fifty with a total of 119 runs while Duckett has 212 runs with two fifties and an average of 53.00. 

Joe Root and Ben Stokes have shown true quality while playing. They both seem to play their best cricket when fired up and now, with the controversy against Australia, this could be a good time to bet on them to get some runs. 

Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow, Ollie Pope, and Moeen Ali are all going to be in the playing eleven for the next match making this a very long batting lineup indeed. 

England's bowling has been quite resilient and they found success with the short ball strategy in the previous match. Tongue played the previous match but could find himself on the sidelines with Moeen Ali back in the lineup. Resting one out of Ollie Robinson or even James Anderson (based on current form) is not out of the question.

England will be more motivated than ever before and that can bring out the best in them. It may also make them play with more discipline and determination.

Australia

Australia has been absolutely brilliant in the series so far. Yes, they pushed the boundaries of the spirit of the game but they also did not complain about the catch that Starc took and was then overturned. Australia has shown without any doubt that it is supremely skilled in all facets of the game. It has played traditional and smarter cricket than England so far. 

Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith are the premier run-getters for Australia. They have faced the most deliveries (775 and 318 balls respectively) and scored the most runs. Travis Head has also been brilliant with his ability counter attack and take the game away quickly. If these three are able to keep playing as they have, Australia will not have to worry about runs. 

Interestingly, Australia's batting has been a bit jittery so far apart from the two players mentioned. David Warner has got starts but not a big score yet. Marnus Labuschagne has also been uncharacteristically quiet and Cameron Green has found the going a bit tough.

The Aussie bowling lineup is world-class but without Lyon, Todd Murphy is now under pressure and you can be sure England will look to unsettle him quickly. From a betting point of view, runs or wickets are likely when Murphy comes on to bowl so you can look to use that for the in-play betting markets.

Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins have all had their moments but we think Hazelwood may be replaced by Scott Boland for this match. Hazelwood has looked out of color and may want some rest.

Australia's team has played well and deserved its wins but it has not had the X factor. We think it could be caught off-guard if it falls behind early in the third Test.