Aussie Whitewash set to Humiliate English Cricket

It's been a miserable Christmas for English cricket fans. The Ashes were lost well before Santa squeezed down the chimney and Australia have just completed victory in the fourth test to add further salt to the wounds of Flintoff & co.

After losing the latest test by an innings, it's tough to see how England can return home with anything other than a 5-0 Ashes drubbing. A combination of lackluster batting and mediocre fielding & bowling left the door half open for Australia. Ricky Ponting's men stepped right through, didn't wipe their feet and helped themselves to a gift wrapped Ashes.

English hopes were briefly raised after Monty Panesar was introduced to proceedings. But it was all too late for England and Panesar as Australia simply stepped up a gear in the third test, when Panesar finally got the chance to bowl, to play some unbeatable cricket.

So, the fifth and final test is now on the horizon. A 5-0 whitewash appears an almost certainty. Indeed, we're not going to waste your time by suggesting bets on that market. Australia are 2/5, England 7/1 and the draw 11/4 with Blue Square

The "Top runscorer" market is a more interesting affair. Obviously an Australian would be the safest bet, it seems most of their team have knocked at least a century in the first four tests after all! We like the 4/1 about Matthew Hayden and the 3/1 for captain Ricky Ponting at Blue Square

Ladbrokes are looking well into the future by releasing odds for the 2009 Ashes! Australia are clear favourites at 1/2, England are 5/2 and the draw is 5/1.

Ed note: Make the most of the fifth and final Ashes test by backing Matthew Hayden as the top runscorer at Blue Square

• 
• 
• Email to a friend
• Print