Australia and the West Indies will face off in the second of their three match series at the famed MCG for the 2015 Boxing Day Test from Saturday.
Steve Smith’s men completed a commanding displayed to defeat the West Indies within three days in their first meeting in Hobart last week and remain clear $1.05 favourites to repeat the dose in the Boxing Day Test.
We’re offering the best odds on the widest range of markets for the Boxing Day Test between Australia and the West Indies!
Australia
Australia are amidst a typically strong summer of cricket; comfortably seeing off New Zealand 2-0 in their recent three test series before franking that form with a crushing win over the West Indies last week.
Having struggled to return to the same heights as those achieved when the likes of Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting, Warne and McGrath appeared on the team sheet, Australia appear to be on the rise and boast a depth of talent across all facets of the game.
Usman Khawaja was unlucky to miss Australia’s third test with New Zealand and first against the West Indies through injury, but has all but demanded re-selection for the Boxing Day Test after blast 1-4 for Big Bash side the Sydney Thunder earlier this week.
Khawaja’s return to health and subsequent inclusion in Australia Boxing Day Test squad looms as the only possible change to Hobart’s winning XI, with pace trio James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle all retained and Nathan Lyon the clear spinning choice.
West Indies
The West Indies were disappointing when failing to make much of an impact against a young Cricket Australia XI upon arriving in the country this summer, and their worst fears were realised when they were handed a fast and convincing defeat in Hobart.
A number of West Indian greats backed their youngsters to take plenty of benefit from their first hit-out, but with the exceptional of a couple of shining lights in each innings, the Windies were barely able to make anything of an impact over the three days of play.
Darren Bravo produced a sturdy century in the first innings while fresh-faced opener Kraigg Braithwaite was unlucky to miss out on a ton in the second.
If the Windies are any chance of producing even a competitive performance in the Boxing Day Test, both players will again have to stand up and be counted, and Captain Jason Holder will also need to chip in and lead from the front.
Australia vs West Indies Betting Preview
If one thing was to be taken from the first meeting between Australia and the West Indies, it is Australia is far-and-away the better team and they realistically do not offer much value in win-draw-win markets.
Test Matches always offer plenty of value and opportunities to place a lucrative wager however, and that is certainly the case once more when Australia and the West Indies meet on Boxing Day.
James Pattinson clearly needed the run when he was unable to make much of an impact in Australia’s first bowling innings in Hobart, but the Victorian responded incredibly with an impressive five wicket haul. Pattinson currently represents terrific value at $3 to be Australia’s top wicket-taker in the first innings while he can be taken at a quote of $9 to claim man of the match honours.
Kraig Braithwaite’s quick-fire 94 in the West Indies’ second innings was impressive and the opener is sure to have taken plenty of confidence from the knock.
Braithwaite can be taken as a $26 chance to be crowned man of the match in the Boxing Day Test and is more than worth consideration at $5 to be the top West Indian run scorer in the first innings.