England cut as Oval test in the balance

Andrew Strauss's superb century at the Oval on day one of the final Test has kept England in with a great chance of clinching the Ashes and bet365 make them 8/13 (1.61) to do just that. The series draw - which requires Australia to win at the Oval, is 6/5 (2.20).

Yet again the Aussies have Shane Warne to thank for keeping them in it and England are the outsiders at 12/5 to wrap up the series with victory this weekend. The draw, which would also give England the series win, is a 9/5 (2.80) chance.

England's hopes of avoiding defeat at the Oval could rely on a decent effort from the tail on Friday morning and Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles will resume on 21 and 5 respectively. Jones, who hit a fine half-century at Trent Bridge, is 5/6 (1.83) to get 46 or more runs, while he's the same price to fall short. Giles, who has chipped in on several occasions in this series, is 5/6 (1.83) to make 21 or more and the same price to be dismissed for 20 or less.

Not surprisingly, Giles, the less accomplished batsman, is the favourite to be dismissed next, at 8/13 (1.61), while Jones is 6/5 (2.20) to fall first.