Australia v West Indies, Second Test Preview
Cricket 
/ Nick Tedeschi / 04 December 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
Betting has Australia winning the Second Test against the West Indies comfortably. It may not be all one way going, writes Nick Tedeschi.
Betting has Australia winning this Test and it is tough to argue otherwise. Australia are quoted at around $1.25 and that is probably overs with Australia winning 11 of the last 14 Tests at Adelaide and the West Indies having won only 1 of their last 25 outside the Caribbean.
Australia had few problems in disposing of the West Indies in the First Test at the Gabba. Australia declared eight down for 480 and went on to win by an innings and 65 runs. It was a comprehensive victory.
Nearly every Australian contributed. Five Australians made a half-century. Every bat in the top seven made a start of at least 38 with the exception of Shane Watson. Watson did, however, take three wickets and was one of six Australian bowlers to take a wicket with every bowler in both innings claiming a West Indian scalp. It was a fine team performance with few stand-outs but no failures.
Barathwho Century was outstanding
It was quite the opposite with the West Indies who had few players contribute. Young wristy opener Adrian Barathwho has a touch of Sachin Tendulkar about him, was outstanding in scoring a century on debut. Travis Dowlin showed plenty of fight in the first innings. Kemar Roach and Dwayne Bravo were adequate with the ball. That was it, however, with senior players Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jermaine Taylor all terribly disappointing.
Australia have lost paceman Ben Hilfenhaus for the Adelaide Test with Doug Bollinger his likely replacement. The West Indies will bring in senior batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan, most likely for Brendan Nash, with Jermaine Taylor also out after he suffered a back injury in the Brisbane Test.
Don't discount the draw
Betting has Australia winning this Test and it is tough to argue otherwise. Australia are quoted at around $1.25 and that is probably overs with Australia winning 11 of the last 14 Tests at Adelaide and the West Indies having won only 1 of their last 25 outside the Caribbean. Traders should not discount the draw, however, with the Adelaide wicket traditionally as flat as the Eyre Highway and a little bit of rain around Adelaide this weekend. If Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul can back Barath and Dowlin up, put some runs on the board and stick around, this Test could go the trip. Any price over $4.75 is a bet.
Those looking to play the exotics should focus on Michael Clarke. Clarke has scored a century in each of his last three Test matches at the Adelaide Oval. He is as suited to the Adelaide wicket as any Australian bat. Traders should bet him for high score at better than $4.75 along with betting Clarke to score 100 in the Australian 100 market.
Traders can also find plenty of value by betting the three options for the Test to finish on the last day. This Test should go much longer than Brisbane and a last day finish would not surprise.
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