ENG vs AUS 4th Test Match Prediction

ENG vs AUS Team Previews

England

After facing back-to-back losses at the start of the series, the hosts scripted a stunning comeback in the 3rd Test match at Headingley. They now trail Australia by 2-1 and a win there will set up the series nicely for the last test.

England has named an unchanged 14-member team for the 4th Test. There were calls to replace Johnny Bairstow, who has had a tough time behind the stumps. He has missed as many as 8 chances behind the stumps in the 3 matches played so far, and barring the half-century in the first innings of the first Test, he has been unable to get going. However, the selectors have backed him and will expect him to get back to form.

The same can be said about openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, who haven’t been too consistent. In such a scenario, the middle-order batsmen, Harry Brook, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes will play an important role. Talking about the bowling, Ollie Robinson, who picked up a niggle at Leeds, is likely to make way for James Anderson.

However, all eyes will be on Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, who picked up a total of 13 wickets in the last match. Stuart Broad is in good form too and is the top wicket-taker for England with 16 wickets.

England's batters will be aggressive (Bazball and all!) and have shown that they are not afraid of taking on the Australian bowlers. The match is really going to be won by their bowlers, though, and that is why we feel they actually need some grass on the pitch.

*UPDATE: England has named its playing eleven and as ecpexted, Jimmy ANderson is back into the playing eleven for Ollie Robinson. 

Australia

While Australia will be disappointed for being unable to claim the series, they will brush off the loss at Headingley as an aberration and look to bounce back at Manchester.

We can however expect a few changes in the playing eleven. David Warner has struggled to perform throughout the season but we expect him to retain his place and open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja. Cameron Green will push for a place but whether he and Marsh can both be accomodated into the playing eleven remains to be seen. Khawaja is in prime form and will hold the key for the visitors.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will play an important role in the middle order alongside Travis Head, while Mitchell Marsh, who scored a century in the last match, will keep his spot in the playing eleven.

Labuschagne has struggled and Smith has been kept a bit quiet (by his standards). Can we see the best of these two in this match? We would not bet on it!

Mitchell Starc picked up a 5- wicket haul in the second innings of the last match and will once again feature in the pace attack alongside Pat Cummins. However, we expect Scott Boland, who hasn’t had the best of times in the middle, to be dropped and replaced by Josh Hazlewood, provided that the latter is fit.

Todd Murphy will lead the spin attack alongside Mitchell Marsh. 

Australia has more selection concerns than England and needs to make some tough calls. David Warner's replacement is Travis Head, already in the best form of his life, and having two quality all-rounders will give them more balance. 

Are they brave enough to make that call in what could be a very tough Test?