Bell to repeat batting heroics

AUSTRALIA’S cricketers must somehow find self-belief and quality if they are to trouble England in the third Test at Old Trafford from tomorrow.

Although the tourists ran England close in the first Test at Trent Bridge, they were flattered: two extraordinary tenth-wicket stands were responsible for their near miss.

There was a huge gulf in class between the teams at Lord’s in the second Test, so it is hard to know what the Baggy Greens can do to reverse things.

Don’t forget that England also pummelled Australia in the final two Tests of the previous Ashes series; since then the Aussies have also lost 4-0 in India.

This is a poor Australian team, and unless England take their foot off their gas it is difficult to see how this summer of home domination is going to change.

England are 4-5 favourites to win in Manchester, which is tempting enough, with Australia 9-2 and the draw 13-5.

But I reckon there are some value bets instead through the individual performance markets.

The first is Ian Bell to be top England batsman. There are four co-favourites on 4-1 yet Bell, who is England’s top scorer of the season and already has two centuries to his name, is 5-1.

I suppose there is the chance he may not get two knocks if the Aussies fold again, but that has not been the case so far.

One of the mysteries of the series has been the absence of Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon, who has been ditched in favour of young Ashton Agar. He must surely return at spin-friendly Old Trafford and, with the Aussie seamers looking much of a muchness, 5-1 for Lyon to be top bowler for the tourists looks generous to me.



RECOMMENDATIONS: Ian Bell to be top England run scorer, 5-1 (Skybet, Stan James); Nathan Lyon to be top Australian wicket-taker, 5-1 (Paddy Power, Stan James, Ladbrokes).