Decision time for punters

England's humiliating defeat by an innings and 80 runs at Headingley has left the Three Lions' Ashes dreams hanging in the balance. The crushing defeat will have certainly dented the host team's spirit and has no doubt troubled spread bettors who bought England's series win index spread prior to the first Test back in July.

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Spread buyers and sellers of the series outcome might not have foreseen sweating on the outcome at the Oval - it's the first time in 43 years that the two sides have been all square heading into the last Test.

England fans and their Ashes spread buyers will be praying that the side can be spurred to victory on news that Andrew Flintoff is expected to be passed fit for the decider although the same spread punters may also fear the worst knowing that the Aussies need just a draw to retain the Urn.

However, the Oval holds many happy memories for English cricket fans since hosting the first Ashes Test win on English soil in 1882. Perhaps the happiest of these is from 2005, when England clinched the draw they needed to win the Ashes for the first time since 1986-1987, ending the longest series-winning run in Ashes history.

Spread buyers of England's match win index will also know that the Oval is the ground the Aussies will be least looking forward to playing at, despite their currently buoyant mood. The Baggy Greens have won just six times here and have lost on fifteen occasions and since Sir Donald Bradman bowed out with a win, Australia have only won twice, in 1972 and 2001.

Punters might instead expect a close match, knowing that there have been 13 draws between these two sides at the Oval. Spread sellers of Australia's first-innings supremacy will be hoping England's middle-order have got their act together, but only in their wildest dreams could they expect to see a repeat of the incredible Oval match of 1938. England made 903 for 7 (dec), the highest score in Ashes history, to lead by 702 runs afer the first innings and win the match by an innings and 579 runs.

Buyers of England's series ton-ups spread, now at 103 (current make-up 61), will take heart that the Oval has been one of their most successful batting grounds in the past. Record partnerships have frequently been set here, and in the 2005 fixture, four tons were scored. In fact, buyers of Australia's ton-ups can find positives from that match too - openers Langer and Hayden, along with Strauss, all reached 100 runs.

Followers of Graeme Swann's individual spread markets will have been encouraged by his gutsy batting performance alongside Stuart Broad at Headingley, putting on 123 runs between them. His performance with the ball could be vital to England's chances of success - spread punters will recall Shane Warne, thankfully in the commentary box for this Test, taking a staggering 12 wickets here in 2005.

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.