2.30pm , The Rose Bowl – Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Match Betting
Australia are a best price of 8/13 with Stan James. They can also be backed at 4/7 with 
William Hill, 
Paddy Power, Boylesports, Bet365 and 888Sport.
England are 11/8 with 
Betfred, Blue Square, Sky Bet,Totesport and VC Bet
A Tied Match can only be backed at
After another calamitous batting display by England at Lord’s if they are to get anything out of this series – other than a good thrashing – you would imagine a victory here today is a must for Andrew Strauss’ team. If England go 3-0 down you would have to say it’s already series over.
England’s top 6 batsmen – yet again – seem to be the reason behind the demise. In both games they have had the opportunity to chase down reasonable targets and have blown it spectacularly on both occasions – in particular last Sunday when the openers got them off to a flying start, they managed to collapse from 74/0 to 210 all out.
Australia have managed to get by without captain Ricky Ponting with relative ease so far. Without setting the world on fire they have set respectable targets and then successfully defended them, although it has to be said with some help from England’s batsmen.
Mitchell Johnson seems to be back in full swing now and has been the standout bowler of the series so far. Also with Brett Lee letting all his frustration out, Australia have a couple of potent strike bowlers both firing well together at the moment.
Callum Ferguson has also been the standout batsman so far and with Ricky Ponting arriving back with the squad this week (he won’t be available until the 4th match) the Aussie batting line up will be strengthened.
The Aussies look set to stick with the same team that has so far won the first 2 games. England still have no Stuart Broad or Joe Denly who are both still not deemed fit enough to play. Adil Rashid could come back into the side in place of Eoin Morgan or Tim Bresnan, while Graham Onions has been added to the squad but is not likely to play.
