One of the more appealing Test series of the winter begins on Wednesday night/Thursday morning UK time when Australia and New Zealand get their series underway.
Given the close proximity of these two sides this is always a competitive and intriguing series but with New Zealand improving game on game and Australia in a transitional period this one could be even more interesting.
As always in the Australian summer The Gabba in Brisbane is the venue for this opening match. There have been 57 previous Test matches on this ground and it has to be said Australia have a phenomenal record here. You have to go right back to 1988 for the last time a touring side beat them here.
In all Australia have a 35-8 winning record here with 13 draws while New Zealand have just one win from their nine outings on the Queensland ground so that is something the Kiwis will have to fight against here.
Australia go into the series in a new era. Not only has Steve Smith taken over as the full time captain but they are now without the likes of Chris Rogers, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin who have all retired for Test cricket.
Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja and Peter Nevill have replaced them in the squad for this match with all of them set to play. Josh Hazlewood missed the final Test of the Ashes but he is recalled for this one ahead of the unlucky Peter Siddle.
New Zealand are on the up under Brendon McCullum. He leads one of the better bowling attacks in world cricket these days and he knows if he and his fellow batsmen can fire then his side can be as competitive as any.
Like Australia, New Zealand had to make a decision on their third seamer where Doug Bracewell has seen off Matt Henry for that spot in behind Trent Boult and Tim Southee. Kane Williamson will be the man given the responsibility of blunting the Australian attack with the bat.
If I’m honest I’m finding it hard to forge an opinion on the match outcome here purely because I can’t stop having doubts over this Australian batting line up. Those doubts coupled with an inconsistent forecast might mean that betting in play is the way to go.
There is one I fancy as a main bet before the off though and that sees Trent Boult coming into focus. He is 11/10 to take over 2.5 wickets in the first innings and I like that. I wouldn’t take this at odds on or anything but there is enough in the price for me to get involved here.
Boult is one of, if not the, best bowlers in the world at the minute and is always a threat both with new ball and old ball and I expect him to go well here. Inclement conditions will do him no harm and in an attack dominated by he and Southee those two should take the bulk of the wickets so odds against on him getting three looks perfectly fair.
Given the doubts I have over this Australia batting line up it makes sense for me to have a go at a significantly priced top batsman and that is Mitchell Johnson. I’ve taken him a few times in recent Test matches for Australia and had a run on most occasions and with plenty of inexperience or players under pressure above him we should get a run again.
Back T.Boult Over 2.5 1st inns wickets for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Ladbrokes
Back M.Johnson Top Australia 1st Inns Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 67.00 with Betfred
Blog cricket YTD: +7.84pts
