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Ashes 5th Test Tips: England v Australia predictions from James Milton

Resurgent England were frustrated by the Manchester weather in last week's fourth Ashes Test but they can still level the series at 2-2 with victory over Australia at The Oval.

James Milton's England v Australia Tips

England @ 13/10

Marnus Labuschagne Over 75.5 Match Runs @ 5/6 

Mitchell Marsh Australia Top 1st Inns Batter @ 5/1

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation

Setting the scene…..

Australia have clung on to the Ashes urn thanks to a final-day washout in the fourth Test at Old Trafford but they look a jaded side as they reach the end of a gruelling tour of England.

The Aussies' summer began with a victory over India at The Oval in the World Test Championship final but they may struggle on their return to the venue for the fifth Ashes Test.

England have rallied impressively after losing the first two matches, winning at Headingley and dominating the draw in Manchester, so they will be confident of claiming a share of the spoils.

England @ 13/10

England produced some scintillating cricket to give themselves a chance of victory at Old Trafford despite the woeful weather and they should be backed to win the fifth Test at The Oval.

They thumped South Africa by nine wickets in south London last summer, bowling out the Proteas for 118 and 169, and beat Australia there by 135 runs to earn a 2-2 series draw in 2019.

A similar story could be on the cards, especially if Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, who bowled brilliantly in the third and fourth Tests, are passed fit and England's batting unit should be confident after six of the top seven scored first-innings fifties at Old Trafford.

James Milton's Tip:

Australia were grateful for the rain in Manchester and, while showers are also forecast for The Oval, the weather may not be enough to save them in the fifth and final Test.

England could easily be 3-1 up rather than 2-1 down after a topsy-turvy series but they are finishing strongly and the Aussies, playing their sixth Test match in seven weeks and missing key spinner Nathan Lyon, are worth opposing. 

Marnus Labuschagne Over 75.5 Match Runs @ 5/6

Marnus Labuschagne had a tough start to the series, getting a first-ball duck at Edgbaston before scores of 13, 47, 30, 21 and 33 in his next five innings.

However, Australia's number three is a class player who averages nearly 55 in Test cricket and he stepped up when his team needed him at Old Trafford, following up a first-innings 51 with a vital 111 to halt England's victory charge second time around.

James Milton's Tip:

Labuschagne looked back to his best in the fourth Test and he is worth backing to score over 75.5 runs in the final game of the series.

His first Ashes century in England was a crucial one, holding off the home bowlers until the rain came to end the contest, and he dug in against a top-class India attack at The Oval in June, scoring 26 and 41.

Mitchell Marsh Australia Top 1st Inns Batter @ 5/1

Steve Smith has a wonderful Test record at The Oval, scoring three centuries in four matches there, and Travis Head was player of the match in the WTC final thanks to his 163 against India.

However, they could be overshadowed by the impressive Mitchell Marsh, who seems to raise his game for Ashes Tests and has batted superbly since coming back into the side at Headingley.

Marsh counter-attacked beautifully in the first innings at Leeds, scoring 118 off 118 balls with 17 fours and four sixes, and he showed his defensive capabilities at Old Trafford where his unbeaten 31 off 107 deliveries helped the Aussies stave off defeat.

James Milton's Tip:

Marsh was a late replacement for the injured Cameron Green in Leeds but he has seized his unexpected opportunity with scores of 118, 28, 51 and 31 not out.

All three of his Test centuries have come against England and, having top-scored in the first innings in Leeds and been joint-top batter with Labuschagne at Old Trafford, he is worth a bet to sign off in style.

James Milton's England v Australia Tips

England @ 13/10

Marnus Labuschagne Over 75.5 Match Runs @ 5/6 

Mitchell Marsh Australia Top 1st Inns Batter @ 5/1

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation

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