Ashes 2023 
ENG vs AUS, 5th Test

Preview

The fifth and final test match of the 5-match test series between Australia and England will begin on Thursday 27 July at Kennington Oval, London. The visitors have retained the Ashes after a rain-affected draw in the previous test against the Hosts. The World Test Champions lead the series 2-1 and have the chance to win their first series on the English since 2001 this week. Ben Stokes-led ENG was in control for most of the Test but was denied a series-levelling win because of rain. However, while ENG failed to win the Ashes, BazBall still has a great chance to level the series.

The Hosts have been the better side over the last two Ashes Tests where they won one match and another ended in a draw. ENG won the match in Headingley and looked set to clinch the match at Old Trafford, but was thwarted by rain. Still, they have a lot of positives to take from the 4th test match. The English opener Zak Crawley has climbed to the top of the Ashes 2023 batting charts by pummeling 189 off just 182 balls in the first innings of the 4th test match. Skipper Stokes has been ENG's second-best batter this series, adding 360 runs in 7 innings at an average of 51.42 with one hundred and two fifties. 

Pat Cummins-led Australia may have retained the Ashes, but the 2nd placed side in the test ranking won’t be happy with their performance in the last two test matches. AUS was bowled out for 317 runs in the first innings of the 4th test match after being asked to bat first and then allowed the Hosts to post a mammoth 592 in their reply. In the second innings of the Test, AUS was struggling at 214-5 but thanks to the hundred of Marcus Labuschagne who helped the visitors in reducing the trail. AUS was still 61 runs behind ENG and was looking at another defeat before rain saved the game for them.

ENG and AUS have played 360 Test matches to date with the Visitors winning 152 matches while the Hosts winning 111 games. ENG's win at Headingley was their 111th. As many as 97 Test matches ended in a draw between England and Australia. 

Match Details

Match: ENG vs AUS, 5th Test, The Ashes 2023

Date: Thursday, July 28, 2023 - Monday, July 31, 2023

Time: 3:30 PM

Venue: Kennington Oval, London, England

Pitch and Weather Report

The average score batting first at this venue is 346 runs but it drops down to 304 runs in the second innings. The highest total posted on this track is a colossal 903-7 (dec.) by the English side way back in 1938. The periodic showers will add more moisture to this track, making things difficult for the batters. In this scenario, the team winning the toss would like to bowl first. ENG and AUS both have fast bowlers to utilize cloudy conditions to their advantage. Because of the cloudy conditions for the 5th test match, we may expect a low-scoring affair. The team batting first should look to set a total of around 330-350 runs.

This track is great for batting for the first three days of the test match. Batting becomes difficult on the final two days as fast bowlers get plenty of bounce and movement off the pitch. However, since the weather is likely to be cloudy for most of the five days the seamers will find plenty of movement off the air. 

The maximum temperature will remain at 22°C, with a low of 16°C with 63% humidity, and a wind speed of 16-19 Km/hr for the 5th Ashes test between England and Australia Thursday, July 28, 2023 - Monday, July 31, 2023. We can expect a bit of rain on the last three days of the test match.

ENG vs AUS Squads

ENG: Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Moeen Ali, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

AUS: Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jimmy Pierson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner

ENG vs AUS Probable Playing XIs

ENG: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson/Ollie Robinson

AUS: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

Match Prediction

ENG and AUS have played 360 Test matches to date with the Visitors winning 152 matches while the Hosts winning 111 games. ENG's win at Headingley was their 111th. As many as 97 Test matches ended in a draw between England and Australia. A lot is at stake as we head into the fifth and final Ashes Test. The Visitors would be desperate for a series win, while the Hosts would be determined to draw level. ENG and AUS have had their moments in the series, but at present, Ben Stokes-led ENG seems to be the one with momentum on their side. We say ENG to win this match and make it 2-2.

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