England trails behind Australia in the Ashes series by a narrow margin, following a dramatic six-run loss to India.
England's hopes of victory in the fifth Test against India at The Oval were dashed as they lost the match by six runs, with India staging a dramatic bowling comeback led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
England started the final day requiring 374 runs for victory, but a strong opening stand between Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson seemed to have set them on course. However, Siraj's exceptional bowling performance turned the game around.
Siraj was the standout bowler, taking 9 wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the final innings. His pace and movement troubled England's batsmen, and he led the charge in the last session to pick crucial wickets that turned the game around.
Support from Prasidh Krishna was also crucial, as he picked up four wickets and contributed significantly in the bowling effort to break partnerships and maintain pressure on England's batsmen.
The pitch and atmospheric conditions became more favorable to bowlers late in the game, which India's pace attack exploited effectively to collapse England's innings quickly. England's collapse from 301-3 to 367 all out was a testament to India's resilience under pressure.
Earlier in the match, Yashasvi Jaiswal's aggressive century in India's second innings helped post a challenging target of 374 runs for England, which was a crucial foundation for the win.
England hope to have captain Ben Stokes and fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood fit for the first Ashes Test, which will start in Perth on November 21. The Ashes 2025-26 schedule includes Tests at Optus Stadium, Perth, followed by Tests at The Gabba, Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, MCG, Melbourne, and SCG, Sydney.
Paddy Power's 5-1 favorite in the series correct-score market is a 4-1 Australia victory, closely followed by 3-1 or 3-2 home wins at 11-2. England are 5-2 to beat Australia in the upcoming Ashes series.
In the recent past, more than £10,000 was matched on Betfair at the minimum odds of 1.01 on England, indicating a strong belief in their ability to win the series. However, the dramatic turn of events in the fifth Test against India serves as a reminder that cricket can be an unpredictable sport.
As England look forward to the Ashes series, they will undoubtedly be reflecting on the lessons learned from their narrow defeat against India and seeking to improve their performance in the upcoming matches.
Sports betting enthusiasts should keep an eye on the upcoming Ashes series, where England are the underdogs at 5-2 according to Paddy Power's correct-score market. Meanwhile, betting tips for the series could include seeking advice from expert analysts with insights into England's recent performance, such as their narrow defeat against India, and anticipating how they will apply those lessons to the challenging Ashes battles ahead.
