The Ashes Fifth Test betting preview

Eighteen years on since England last won an Ashes Series, they have a wonderful chance to create history when they take on Australia in the fifth and final test at the Oval, with a 2-1 series lead.Other than a capitulation in test one at Lords, a result which now seems a distant memory, England have dominated every match. Two wins at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge sandwiching a draw at Old Trafford that would have seen the series already decided had the hosts managed to take just one more wicket.The Oval is the traditional venue for the final test of an English summer, and is renowned for it's faster flatter wickets. It is also a ground where England have generally prospered against these opponents. In fact, the last eight times they have faced off at the South London patch, England have only lost once.That loss however, came last time around, in 2001, with the winning margin being an innings and 25 runs. The visitors reached a monstrous 641 for 4 in the first innings, and although England fought in their first innings, there was ultimately no answer to, guess who, Mr Shane Warne (11 wickets in the match) and Mr Glenn McGrath (7 wickets in the match).These two men could be critical again. It will not have escaped McGrath's attention that the two games his team has lost, have been the two for which he has been injured. The deadly accurate seamer was seen bowling in the nets at Essex last weekend, and it would not be a shock to see him included in the starting line-up.Without his prowess, the Aussies have struggled with the ball. Brett Lee is a valuable member of the squad and has taken some key wickets, but is often expensive. Shaun Tait showed promised in his first test at Trent Bridge, but the likes of Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz have simple not performed.This leaves Shane Warne, and there is every possibility that the highest wicket taker in the history of the sport will have the final say.His team should be buoyed by the way that England struggled to make the 129 needed to win the 4th test and will be fighting hard to recreate that pressure. The home team stand on the doorstep of the greatest achievement in cricket, and if they are to step through it is the previously untouchable Aussies who will suddenly be left stranded on the pavement.The bookies have Australia as the favourites, at 7/4, with England at 5/2 and the draw a 6/4 shot at VCBetHowever, with so much at stake, and so many potential permutations, we are not going to touch the outright result. Instead we are going to look at the top performance markets, specifically the top England batsman and man of the match.Marcus Trescothick tops the averages for the series, his 44.37 being almost the same as his overall average of 45.40, and the Somerset opener has been consistent all summer.It will be frustrating for him that he is still to plunder a century against these opponents in 28 innings, but in eight knocks this time around, he has passed 40 on five occasions, and only once has been out for less than 20. Tres does know how to hit big scores however, with 12 tons so far in his career, and playing at the Oval is something he clearly enjoys.This will be his sixth match there, and he has an outstanding average of 85.86 from the previous five. Included in this is a career best of 219, and at 4/1 he is worth a bet to top this market. His blistering starts have been key to England getting a foothold in each of the last three games, and with a pace attack that looks far from formidable on a wicket that should offer little assistance to them, the stage could well be set for Trescothick to finally make it into three figures. If this is to be the case, then there is also every chance for the man of the match award to go his way, and the 16/1 available in this market is also worth a nibble.