Blink and you’ll miss it, the Gabba Test was only the second ever two day Test Match in Australia. The first in 90 years!
Despite all the noise about the surface in Brisbane, the Aussie’s were clinical and will be ready to rip in after an extended break.
The big question of everyone’s lips coming into this Test is Hazlewood or Boland? Hazlewood has missed the last two tests due to injury and ScoBo has been a huge in for Australia. In his short Test career Boland has 25 wickets at a jaw dropping average of 10.36!
He’s making a case for his own selection now, in a lot of people’s eyes he’s no longer seen as a back up and the Australian selectors have nothing but good headaches coming into the Boxing Day Test.
It’s safe to say it’s all happening coming into the second test and being the huge cricket nuffy I am, I’ve taken a deep dive into the scorecards and player stats and I think I’ve found a few winners.
Here’s my preview of the Boxing Day Test.
My Predicted Australia XI
- D. Warner
- U. Kwawaja
- M. Labuschagne
- S. Smith
- T. Head
- C. Green
- A. Carey (WK)
- P. Cummins (C)
- M. Starc
- N. Lyon
- S. Boland
I don’t think it’s the right choice but I believe Australia with stick with Scott Boland, we all saw what he did at the G last year and he’s come into this side and done everything the selectors have asked of him.
Josh Hazlewood is currently ranked 15th in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings and is honestly our best bowler when everyone is firing. He may not get the same praise as Starc, Cummins and Lyon but his line and length is genuinely a work of art and is the first bowler I would be putting on the teamsheet.
However I think the selectors will go with the shiny new toy that puts bums on seats – Scott Boland.
Back Australia to win @ $1.33
The Aussie’s are once again incredibly short favourites for a reason. They just beat a team inside two days, yes the conditions were very spicy but Travis Head still scored 90 odd.
The Aussies are a very good team at the moment and I would be adding them H2H in some multi sport multis over the weekend.
Back Travis Head to score 50 in 1st Innings @ $2.63
He’s sort’ve, kind of, not really flown under the radar this summer. Marnus, Usman and Smith steal a lot of headlines but Travis Head is deadset seeing beachballs at the moment.
As I said earlier he scored 92 on a green monster in Brisbane I absolutley think he scores another milestone in Melbourne where it has historically favoured the batsmen a lot more.
$7 for him to score a 1st innings 100 is another market that looks like incredible value.
Get around T. Head!
Back Mitchell Starc top 1st Innings Wicket Taker @ $3.75
Starcy is another one of the Aussie’s that’s having a great summer, he looked red hot in that First Test and I like him to continue to cook in Melbourne.
There’s a lot of questions about who is going to bowl for the Australian’s but Starcy will 100% be playing and I like him to clean up.
Back Travis Head Man of The Match @ $15
Just have a really strong feeling about Travis, as I said above he’s having a huge summer and I think a big score in the 1st dig could be all he needs to get the nod for MOTM.
$15 big risk but you’ve got to be in it to win it!