mvaughan

England are the value ahead of the Fourth Test at the MCG but the form of Mike Hussey is a concern for would-be backers of the tourists. Either way, a draw is highly unlikely, says Michael Vaughan.


So it's all square again with two to play. The bad news for England fans is that Australia are the ones carrying the momentum, the good news is that this pitch should suit England a lot more than what they were up against at Perth.

I haven't actually seen the pitch yet but I'd expect it to have a little bit of grass on it early on and for it to flatten out a bit as the match progresses. It's very unlikely the ball will swing like it did last time or carry through with the same amount of pace and that should mean Mitchell Johnson shouldn't be able to have the same sort of impact.

England will want to bat first, get a big score on the board and hope that late on in the match Graeme Swann can weave his magic again. He looked out of sorts last time out and a little low on confidence but it wasn't a spinner's wicket in the slightest, you only have to look at the fact that Steve Smith didn't get a bowl at all for Australia.

Melbourne should present England with a better chance of winning a Test than Sydney so if they find themselves on top here, they really need to go for the jugular. At 3.35 England look better value than Australia at 2.46 but the incredible form of Mike Hussey worries me a little bit and because I think we'll get a result here, the call has to be laying the draw at 3.35.

As for first innings top batsman honours, I think it will be the in-form men coming good once more so my money is on Hussey and Ian Bell again.


Recommended Bets:

Lay the draw at 3.35
Back Ian Bell to be England top batsman in the first innings at 6.0
Back Mike Hussey to be Australia top batsman in the first innings at 5.5


(Read Michael Vaughan’s Ashes opinions by visiting http://betting.betfair.com/cricket/ashes-betting/)