Only two more matches – or torture sessions as they could be known – are now left for Alastair Cook to endure, and judging by his comments after losing the series in Sydney, they could be his last two matches as captain.
Such has been Australia’s dominance throughout the whole tour, that the 4/5 currently on offer for another Australian victory is not for them to win the 4th ODI, but to win final two ODIs, and complete another Whitewash of England (Australia are 4/5 to win the series 5-0 with William Hill).
I can’t remember a time when two supposedly evenly matched teams had such one sided odds, 4/5 is usually the sort of price you would get on a team winning one ODI, not two.
This tour has been a complete disaster for Alastair Cook, it really is hard to see how he comes back from this. This has more than likely finished him off as captain, maybe in both formats, and it could have also done untold damage to him as an international cricketer.
I have my views on the level of importance given to 50 Over cricket by England, and I will vent that on another day, but suffice to say that resting some of England’s better 50 Over cricketers probably hasn’t helped the cause.
I’m pretty sure they would have defended that total in the 2nd match had Stuart Broad been playing, as he should have been.
That’s all water under the bridge now, and despite Cook claiming the other night that he won’t leave anything out on the field over the last two matches, it’s hard to see what he has left to give.
Australia are resting Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, David Warner and Shane Watson for the 4th match (resting players after a series is won, what a novel idea), and even taking that into consideration, they are still 4/9 favourites to win the match.
And before anybody reminds me that Mitchell Johnson was rested at the start of the series, I am aware of that. My point is England went too far after they rested Kevin Pietersen (probably dropped), Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson. Not a luxury you can afford after a Test thrashing, and already without Swann and Trott.
Pretty much sums up England from at least as far back as the squad selection (and beyond to be honest)…… mixed up thinking!
Anyway, the odds with William Hill (new customers get a £25.00 Free Bet) for Friday’s match from Perth are Australia 4/9, England 7/4.
Foe the series result, the odds are…..
Australia 3-2 is 8/1
Australia 4-1 is 11/8
Australia 5-0 is 4/5