Can England upset the odds and win at The Oval?

Momentum is a huge thing in cricket. In fact, it can often be the difference between winning and losing a test match. The current Ashes series has been no exception England used the momentum gained in Cardiff to aid their big victory at Lords, while Australia used their fight back at Edgbaston to help them secure a massive win at Headingley.

Who has the momentum ahead of the deciding test match then? Well, after the huge win in Leeds, it is without doubt the tourists. Ricky Ponting’s men have their tails up and are ready for the game at The Oval and are most people’s favourites to emerge victorious.

This could work to England’s advantage though. Every Australian preview I read about the final test is criticising England and claiming how Ponting and co will comfortably get the better over Andrew Strauss’ men. They seem to have regained their arrogance and

‘pom-bashing’ again on the back of one test win.

There have been so many series between these sides in recent years that have been over as a contest going into the final test though. England are still in this series and the Australian arrogance could come back to bite them. They have underestimated England in the past and they might do so again.

Over the last week, I have seen Mark Waugh, Jason Gillespie and Ian Chappel absolutely slate England’s batting and dismiss their chances of winning at The Oval. Strauss should pin these articles up on the dressing-room wall and demand that his team proves the critics wrong.

England are good enough to beat Australia. They need to remember this. Forget the Aussie gloating, forget the increasingly negative attitude of the English press and go out there and show us all what you are made of.

Come on England, I am one of the few who has not written you off yet. Now go out there and upset the Fifth Test odds and make those of us who have backed you with our Oval Test bets happy! 

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