England have regained the Ashes. Australia’s defiance ended at 5.48pm with England completing a 197 run victory to spark loud scenes of celebration and jubilation at The Oval.

England win the Ashes 2-1

Flintoff Signs off with Ashes win…

It was tense but England bowled out Australia to win the Ashes at The Oval!  Andrew Flintoff made the crucial breakthrough as England regained the Ashes on an emotional day at the Oval. England all-rounder Flintoff, featuring in his 79th and final Test, had the telling impact on the npower series decider in an unusual manner as he ran out Australia captain Ricky Ponting in mid-afternoon.

Flintoff closes his test career as an Ashes winner!

What a great summer…Andrew Strauss man of the series for England.

Andrew Strauss now joins Michael Vaughan as an England Ashes winning captain while Ricky Ponting’s glorious career will always have one big black mark. Today he became the first Australian captain since Billy Murdoch more than a century ago to lose two Ashes series in England.

His fate was sealed when Graeme Swann took his fourth wicket of the day dismissing Hussey when he flicked a catch to short leg.

Well done Andrew Strauss

England regained the Ashes with a momentous 197-run win in the deciding Test to seal a 2-1 series triumph.

After losing 5-0 in Australia in 2007, victory in The Oval sun was reminiscent of England’s legendary 2005 Ashes win.

Well done to Nathan Lynch who tipped England to win and told you early in the summer! The best cricket and free betting tips from Racing Diary!

Well Done England!

England Win The Ashes!

England Lift the Ashes

Aussies unhappy!

England Win The Ashes at The Oval is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Earlier in the summer, Nathan Lynch told you told you to back England to win the Ashes, now it comes down to just one test at The Oval from Thursday. England must win, a draw will see the Aussies retain the Ashes. Can England do it?

The Ashes: England v Australia, fifth Test
Aug 20-24 2009, Kennington Oval, London
TV: Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD1
Radio: BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio Four (Long Wave)
Web: Live scores and updates @ RacingDiary.co.uk

This it it, The Ashes or Bust!

The Daily Telegraph is the best source of Ashes news and they are reporting that;

The return of Andrew Flintoff means England will likely return to their favoured line-up: five batsmen (with Jonathan Trott replacing Ravi Bopara), three all-rounders (Flintoff, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad), and three specialist bowlers. James Anderson and Graeme Swann will be two of those, while Graeme Onions, Monty Panesar, Steve Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom are in contention for the final bowling spot.

I would suggest that England should have made more changes, in the batting department. Cook and Bell have been disappointing this summer and playing it safe by the selectors will either be justified or prove a disaster. Cook and Bell have to deliver. Personally speaking I would have brought in Ramprakash who is in great form, and lets face it would’t do worse than these guys did at Headingley. Trott may inject some runs, but I am not in favour of South Africans playing for England.

Harmison was bowling pies at Headingley but he has a good record at The Oval and is respected, if not quite feared, by the Aussies. Whoever the selector choose to wear the England cap, they have a duty to deliver and to play the game of their lives. Andrew Strauss has stepped up to the plate with the bat and has proved himself a good, stable and worthy captain of England. At least he is an Englishman! He is in the mould of Atherton and Hussain, calm and studious and I think deserves to lead England to the Ashes. But you only win it by playing well as a team.

You have to say based on Leeds, the Aussies are a shoe-in. Based on the other three tests England have a huge chance. What was the missing factor at Headingley? Andrew Flintoff? Is he that vital to England? Probably in my view! Let’s get the issue of it being Freddie’s final test match out of the way, we can deal with that after the match. It is all about winning the Ashes for England, a point not lost on Flintoff who says;

“For the past week I have been getting fit for this Test match. It will be the biggest I have ever played, not because it’s been my last but because of the position of the series.”

Flintoff Back for The Oval Test

Andrew Flintoff could win the match for England and the Aussies know it. The hopes of England rest with Flintoff and he is probably the only member of the squad able to shoulder that responsibility. The Aussies must have hoped he missed the match but it is the lift Flintoff gives to the team that could swing it our way. I think England can win it, but Australia, in my view will make it tough as a draw is good enough.

The Odds (Best odds);

• England- 4/1
• Australia- 6/4
• Draw- 13/10

The most likely result, I think is a draw. Two of the four tests have been, but I think England are a great bet at 4/1. Momentum is with Ricky Ponting’s men but a good start by England will see those odds, in play, shorten. Therefore I advise backing England to Win The Ashes on Betfair, with a view to trading for a profit (if you don’t want to be brave).

Former England Captain and 2005 Ashes Winner Michael Vaughan speaking to The Daily Telegraph on the test; click to play

Here is what The Aussies are saying;

Racing Diary will be keeping you up to date with the latest score and the latest news from The Oval with our Racing Diary Live service!

The Ashes: It All Boils Down to the Final Test at The Oval is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Flintoff the key man for England

Having been rested for last week’s fourth Test due to concerns about his ability to last the five days – ironically, the Headingley match didn’t make it through to the end of the third day – the England camp quickly issued a statement, to deflect the flack from the poor performance of the team:

“The advice received was that the swelling in his knee has significantly eased following the decision by the England management team to rest him from the last Test match and that, subject to further rest and intensive treatment, he will be available for selection at the Brit Oval.”

This is encouraging news for England, who are already missing the influential batsman Kevin Pietersen, as they go into the final test match of the series level at 1-1 with Australia  hoping that Andrew Flintoff, 10/1 to be Top England Batsman with William Hill, will boost the under-performing batting line-up as well as strengthen the bowling. This is Flintoff’s final test match of his career, how he would love to win The Ashes, again!

Australia are 6/5 favourites in the betting to win the 5th Ashes Test and therefore take the series. As holders, a draw at odds of 5/4, will see them retain the urn. England are being given are 4/1 chance of turning things around and putting in a performance like the second match of the series to claim the Test win and bring the Ashes home.

England v Australia “Ashes Decider” Odds is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Below you will find the scoreboard and all the latest Ashes news Live from Twitter…

Test Match Scoreboard- Live (Auto Updates/ Refreshes)

Ashes Scoreboard Live, Second Test at Edgbaston is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Jul 30-Aug 3 2009, Edgbaston, Birmingham
TV: Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports HD1
Radio: BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio Four (Long Wave)
Live Web Updates: Racing Diary

The last time England met Australia at Edgbaston a Classic Ashes clash was served up; here are the highlights…

From The Daily Telegraph

Who Plays;
Australia must decide whether to stick with Mitchell Johnson at Edgbaston or turn to the more reliable Stuart Clark. Johnson started this tour poorly and has got steadily worse since, with a young Worcestershire doing well against him. Johnson remains Australia’s only genuine strike bowler, however, and with Ricky Ponting’s side 1-0 down in this series, the temptation will be to give Johnson one chance to prove himself. England expect Andrew Flintoff to be fit, which will mean Ian Bell for Kevin Pietersen is their only change. Steve Harmison for Graeme Onions would be the more attacking option, but coach Andy Flower appears unconvinced by their arguments in favour of the mercurial pace bowler

Likely teams
England: Strauss (capt), Cook, Bopara, Bell, Collingwood, Prior (wkt), Flintoff, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Onions.

Australia: Hughes, Katich, Ponting (capt), Hussey, Clarke, North, Haddin (wkt), Johnson, Hauritz, Siddle, Hilfenhaus.
Umpires: Billy DD

Weather watch
Thursday: Light rain shower.
Friday: Consistent rain showers from midday.
Saturday: Light rain shower.

Quotes;

Michael Clarke:

“We play our best cricket when the chips are down, we are 1-0 down and we’ll take the positives out of that. We know where we let ourselves down over the past two Tests and we know the areas we want to improve. I’m certain if we play our best cricket we will win this Test.”

Ian Bell:

“I can’t go out and play like Kev, I’ve just got to go out there and think about how I want to score my runs, and make sure we get a good first-innings score. I know that my record against Australia is the weakest out of all the countries I have played, and that’s up to me now to turn around.”

Jason Gillespie:

“I’ve been a strong supporter of [Mitchell] Johnson and I’d like him to get one more opportunity. He’s come under some heavy criticism and we all know he hasn’t been performing. But Australia won’t want to drop him from go-to man to the team’s No. 4 choice in a couple of matches. He’s got a good record over the past couple of years. Give him another chance.”

Racing Diary’s Betting Preview:

No need for indepth betting analysis. The key thing here is the good old British weather which will have it’s say. I don’t think there will be enough play for a result and the match will end in a draw. There will be some entertainment for the crowd but there is little prospect of a result.

Back the Draw and your money should be safe!

Get the Latest Betting Prices for the Edgbaston Test.

Third Ashes Test Preview- 30th July is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk