Australia and New Zealand do battle in what will be a historical Test series over the coming month. The Anzac Tests will see the first ever day-night Test match played at Adelaide to conclude what should be a really good series.
We know these two sides are the best in the world in the one day game but the last 12 months have shown us they are pretty competent in this format of the game too and given the friendly rivalry between the nations to add to the competitiveness of it this could be a fascinating four weeks.
The traditional opening three venues of an Australian Test match summer are being used for this series with Brisbane hosting the first game on Thursday before the sides head to Perth and then down to Adelaide where the lights will be on and the pink ball will be used for the first time.
Both countries have been pretty busy throughout 2015 so we have a certain familiarity to both although this is the first series Steve Smith has officially been Australia’s permanent captain for after their series in Bangladesh was cancelled.
Australia have beaten India at home, won in the West Indies and then lost the Ashes to England in 2015 but are well oiled in the Test arena. New Zealand saw off Sri Lanka at home at the beginning of the year and got a credible draw in England in May.
New Zealand haven’t actually lost any of their last seven Test series so gone are the days where Brendon McCullum’s men were easy pushovers. Australia are probably worthy favourites but they are a little short for me to invest in and in fact I’m reluctant to bet on the series outcome with the day-night match having the potential to be a bit of a lottery.
With that in mind I’m going to head to the series player markets although in truth there is only one I’m going with. I have to say I came close to taking Kane Williamson to be New Zealand’s leading batsman in the series but his price is a little skinny and with no warm up preparation we’ve no form to go with.
Instead I’m going to take a bit of a punt on Josh Hazlewood to be the leading Australian bowler. I say a bit of a punt and that is because he isn’t actually guaranteed to play the opening match. It appears to be between him and Peter Siddle but if Hazlewood does get the nod he’s a big price at 11/2.
He was only a couple of wickets away from being Australia’s top wicket taker in the Ashes and that was despite not playing the final match of that series so that shows his pedigree. He goes well at The Gabba and should go well in Perth too so if he gets in the side he should really threaten the two Mitch’s.
Back J.Hazlewood Top Australia Series Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 6.50 with Stan James
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