Boxing Day Test
The Boxing Day Test is one of the highlights of the Australian sporting year and Australia and Pakistan will do battle in what will be another intriguing Test at the MCG on Monday.
Australia dominated the first Test from the outset, but some tired bowling and questionable captaincy from Steve Smith almost allowed Pakistan to complete a truly historic comeback.
Australia will start this Test as dominant favourites, but Pakistan are sure to have taken plenty of confidence from their spirted fightback at the Gabba.
Head To Head Betting
Australia were in control for the majority of the first Test against Pakistan and they will start this clash as $1.40 favourites, while Pakistan and the draw are both $5.50.
The Australian fast-bowlers bowled a great deal of overs in the second innings of the opening Test and it is fair to say that they were very tired by the concluding stages of the Test.
They have had a good break before this second Test, but the like of Mitchell Starc, Jose Hazlewood and Jackson Bird could still take some tired bodies into this Test and may struggle to take the 20 wickets required to win.
It is tough to see Pakistan being able to take the 20 wickets that will be required to win this Test, but an improved Pakistan batting effort could see them come away with a draw.
Back Pakistan To Win @ $5.50
Man Of The Match
Steve Smith, Dave Warner and Mitchell Starc are all locked in a battle for favouritism in our Man Of The Match betting market.
Smith was nothing short of dominant during the opening Test and there is no Pakistan bowler that was really able to trouble him.
He made over 200 runs without being dismissed in the Boxing Day Test last year and I expect him to dominate once again.
Back Steve Smith To Be Named Man Of The Match @ $7
Top Pakistan 1st Innings Runscorer
Gabba hero Azhar Ali is now an equal favourite with Misbah Ul-Haq at a quote of $5 from the likes of Younis Khan ($5.50), Sami Aslam ($6) and Babar Azam ($6).
After his outstanding knock at the Gabba, it is very tough to go past Azhar Ali.
While the likes of Misbah Ul-Haq and Younis Khan never looked comfortable in either innings, he was able to make a stellar Australian bowling line-up look very average and he looks in for a big series.
Back Azhar Ali to be Pakistan’s top 1st Innings Runscorer @ $5
Sydney To Hobart
The Sydney To Hobart Yacht race is one of the most historic events on the Australian sporting calendar and is a fixture of Boxing Day Festivities.
American maxi Comanche ended the winning run of Wild Oats XI in the Sydney To Hobart 12 months ago, but it is Wild Oats XI that will go into the race as a clear favourite in 2016.
Can Wild Oats XI win the Sydney To Hobart for the eighth time or will there be an upset? I have analysed the leading chances and below you can find my thoughts on each.
Wild Oats XI
Wild Oats XI was forced to retire from the Sydney To Hobart last year, but she remains the most successful boat in the history of the race.
She has been the first boat across the line on eight occasions and twice she has broken the race record while also winning handicap honours.
The recent Big Boat Challenge showed that she still has a great deal of speed and if the conditions are not particularly rough she will prove incredibly tough to beat.
CQS
CQS is a similar boat to Wild Oats XI and she showed just what she is capable of when she took out the Kiwi Round White Island Race earlier this year.
That race is not as tough as the Sydney To Hobart and like Wild Oats XI is not a boat that relishes extremely difficult conditions.
The problem with CQS is that she probably isn’t as fast as Wild Oats XI and it is tough to get her as short as her current quote.
Scallywag
Scallywag contested the Sydney To Hobart as Ragamuffin 100 and finished in second position behind Comanche.
It is clear that she relished the tougher conditions in the race last year and if it was not for a couple of minor hiccups at key points she may have finished closer to the winner.
She will need the right conditions to be able to upstage Wild Oats XI and it is easy to see this going pear-shaped for her, but she is not out of the race completely.
Perpetual Loyal
Perpetual Loyal is the best value yacht in our current betting market at the current quote of $10.
It could either go two ways for Perpetual Loyal – she will either blow away her competition or not make it to Hobart, but she does have a great deal of upside and has been billed as the fastest 100 foot yacht in the world.
Even her captain admits that she needs the right conditions to be a genuine winning chance, but if she gets those conditions she will be the boat to beat, which makes her great value at her current price.
EPL Preview
Christmas is now behind us and we have entered the busiest part of the English Premier League season.
This is the time of year when the depth of every side is tested and there is often plenty of upsets.
We will be looking for outsiders at a good price during this match day and you can find our recommended bets for all ten matches below!
Watford have drawn three of their past eight games as home favourites, while Crystal Palace have drawn six of their past 15 games as away underdogs.