What is set to be a fascinating Test Series between Australia and South Africa gets underway in Durban on Thursday night.
Australia will go into this Series with plenty of confidence following their dominant series win over England in The Ashes, but beating South Africa on their home soil is a completely different challenge.
Can Australia continue their excellent Test Match form or will South Africa simply prove too strong? We have analysed both sides and our complete First Test tips can be found below.
Head To Head Betting
It is Australia that will go into this clash as narrow favourites at a quote of $2.25 from South Africa at $2.50, while as much as $4.50 is available for a draw.
Australia did win The Ashes in dominant 4-0 fashion and recorded a number of big wins in the process, but there really wasn’t as much between the two sides as the final result suggests.
England struggled badly in the big moments – especially when Steve Smith was involved – and with a big of luck this series would have been much closer.
Australia did beat South Africa 2-1 the last time that they toured the Rainbow Nation, but it should not be forgotten that South Africa embarrassed Aussies last Summer.
There is no doubt that this is an ageing South African outfit, but they still possess one of the most dangerous fast-bowling attacks in the world and they face an Australian side that has struggled to cope with high-quality fast-bowling.
South Africa have won seven of their past eight Test Matches on home soil and that includes a Series win over India.
It was the likes of Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada that led them to this Series win and they will once again prove key to their chances – even without Steyn who will miss the first Test due to injury.
The fact that we are yet to even mention the likes of Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock shows just how strong this South African side is and they really do have far more depth than Australia.
As always, Australia will be highly reliant on Steve Smith and this will prove a more stern test for the fast-bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood than the undermanned England batting line-up did.
There really isn’t a great deal between these two teams, but the price of $2.50 for a South Africa win does appeal on home soil.
Back South Africa To Win @ $2.50
Top Australia 1st Innings Runscorer
Steve Smith ($3.25) is a clear favourite in this betting market from David Warner ($4.50), Usman Khawaja ($5.50), Shaun Marsh ($6), Cameron Bancroft ($7) and Mitchell Marsh ($9).
It is impossible to bet against Smith in this betting market.
Smith was nothing short of outstanding against England in The Ashes and if Australia are any chance in this Test Series, he will need to be at his very best once again.
Back Steve Smith @ $3.25
Top South Africa 1st Innings Runscorer
The Top South Africa 1st Innings Runscorer is a far more competitive betting market and there is very little between AB de Villiers ($4), Hashim Amla ($4.33), Dean Elgar ($4.50), Aiden Markram ($6.50) and Faf du Plessis ($6.50).
Quinton de Kock is one of the best wicket-keeper batsman in the world and he scored plenty of runs when South Africa toured Australia at the end of 2016.
He is more than capable of scoring quick runs at the end of South Africa’s innings and he is well and truly over the odds at the current price of $8.
Back Quinton de Kock @ $8
Man Of The Match
Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc are on top of the Man Of The Match betting market from AB de Villiers ($9), David Warner ($9), Josh Hazlewood ($9), Pat Cummins ($9) and Kagiso Rabada ($10).
Vernon Philander has given Australian batsman plenty of issues over the years and he was nothing short of outstanding during South Africa’s recent Test Series win over India.
At $13, Philander is massive overs to come away with Man Of The Match honours.
Back Vernon Philander To Be Named Man Of The Match @ $13