The traditional Boxing Day Test match takes place in Melbourne this week and it is the second match of three in the series between Australia and the West Indies.
West Indies were wiped out in Hobart two weeks ago and can’t possibly be much worse going into this match but they face the prospect of Australia actually being even stronger which could well make for another one sided spectacle.
Australia dominated from start to finish in Hobart and will be expected to be in total control of this match too. We usually see them inspired by a huge Boxing Day crowd and from there they rarely look back.
Usman Khawaja missed the opening match of the series but he has recovered from his injury and scored a majestic ton in the Big Bash since then to prove his form is still in good order. Initially Shaun Marsh replaced Khawaja in the side but such was his brilliance in Hobart he is expected to stay in and Joe Burns faces the prospect of being dropped.
West Indies came into the series with little expected of them and after the first Test even less is anticipated and it might just be that the huge crowd and occasion brings the best out of them but if we are being completely honest their side just isn’t good enough.
The Windies will be forced into at least one change with Shannon Gabriel picking up an injury in the first match which will keep him out of the entire series. Carlos Brathwaite or Miguel Cummins look like being in line to replace the pace man.
As always with the Boxing Day Test, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is the venue for this match. This will be the 108th time that a Test has been held on this ground and Australia have a 61-30 winning record here with 16 draws. West Indies have played here 14 times and have lost 10 of those matches with just three wins.
The wicket is prepared out the back on this ground so it should be modified to last the five days. Usually it is a good batting strip here and the bowlers have to work hard to get anything out of it but with the high stands there can be some swing around which keeps the bowlers interested.
Barring some sort of miracle Australia are going to win this match it is just a matter of how many they win by. They won by an innings and millions in the first match and it would be quite a surprise if they don’t threaten another innings win here.
With that in mind it is hard to find some bets for this match but one performance line which looks a little high belongs to Denesh Ramdin. The line is at 89.5pts and given that he only managed 22pts in the first Test it immediately looks a little high.
If the Windies only bowl once the potential for catches won’t be that high so he’s going to have to knock off most of these points with the bat. Since 2013 the keeper-batsman has only made two 50s which highlights how out of his depth he can be at this level so all things being equal, bar an incredible improvement from the tourists, I don’t see how Ramdin gets near 90pts.
Back D.Ramdin’s Performance – Under 89.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Paddy Power
