Ashes 2023: I back Australia because there are people playing their last Ashes who want to make their mark – Dinesh Karthik

India’s veteran wicket-keeper bat Dinesh Karthik has backed Australia to win the fifth Ashes Test against England. Australia finished the penultimate day on 135-0 with Usman Khawaja and David Warner remaining unbeaten on 69 and 58 respectively at the end of the day before rain washed out the final session.

Karthik feels there are Australian players who playing their last Ashes and they would want to make their mark. This is expected to be David Warner’s last Ashes series as he is all set to hang his boots in 2024 against Pakistan from red-ball cricket and he will want to deliver the goods in the final innings of the ongoing Ashes.

Karthik feels Australia will be 51% favorites to win the fifth Test match whereas England has a 49% chance of drawing level in the series.

“Australia has a chance of making it 3-1 and that’s where the pressure kicks in,” Karthik said on Sky Sports Cricket. “I back Australia and I say that because there are people playing their last Ashes and they will want to make their mark. The last two games haven’t exactly gone to plan for them and here is a chance to make amends and get retribution. I am going 51 per cent Australia, 49 percent England.”

The first three Test Ashes matches have gone down to the wire and the fifth game has all the ingredients to have a thrilling finish.

On the other hand, former England skipper Nasser Hussain backed the hosts to win the final Test as he feels the spinners will get assistance on the last day at the Oval. Hussain believes Joe Root and Moeen Ali will play a crucial role for the home team.

Meanwhile, Australia will look to carry the good show, and their experienced batters – Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith are going to hold the key.