England need Malan and Bairstow to kick on

Resumes BT Sport 1, 2.30am

Joe Root won the toss for the third consecutive Ashes Test and the England captain was rewarded with a score of 305-4 at the close of play on day one in Perth.

Things had looked far bleaker for England, trailing 2-0 in the five-match series, when Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow came together at 131-4.

However, the pair constructed an unbroken 174-run partnership for the fifth wicket leaving England 2-1 for victory with Australia out to 3-1 and the draw 11-10 favourite.

The Aussies were trading at 2-5 in-play when Mark Stoneman was the fourth England batsman dismissed, controversially given out caught behind off Mitchell Starc.

But Malan, who had been 10-1 with Betfred to score England's first century of the series, ended the day on 110 with Bairstow 75 not out and England will hope they can continue that fine work on day two.

They resume against a relatively new ball and bet365 quote their first-innings runs line at 465.5. Coral offer 100-30 that Bairstow reaches his century and England go on to win the match.

If Malan and Bairstow get through the first hour or so at the Waca it will set things up nicely for the England lower-order and Moeen Ali is worth a small bet to score a half-century.

Moeen was tormented by Nathan Lyon in the first two Tests, falling to the spinner in all four innings, but Lyon looks far less threatening in Perth than he did on helpful pitches in Brisbane and Adelaide.

Moeen has made 38, 40, 25 and two in the series, usually coming to the crease with England in trouble. He has the shots to capitalise on the solid foundation laid by Malan and Bairstow and the fast outfield at the Waca should help him get the scoreboard ticking.

Recommendation
M Ali to score a first-innings fifty
1pt 3-1 Sky Bet