The second Test series of a busy Australian international summer kicks off down under on Thursday when Australia host the West Indies in Hobart. Conventionalists will be pleased to note that we are back to the red ball now after the pink ball experiment but that might be as good as it gets for the traditionalists.
Australia go into this series with their confidence high after a 2-0 win over New Zealand in that recent series even though they were rarely at full strength at any point in it. Common logic would say that if they are beating a capable side like New Zealand 2-0 they should walk past the West Indies.
It is up to the proud men from the Caribbean to prove that logic wrong. One man who thinks they can do it is Curtly Ambrose. He’s been quite vocal in the lead up to the series even though the Windies were wiped out in their sole warm up match over the weekend.
Australia have confirmed James Pattinson is in the side so Nathan Coulter-Nile will be sent back to Perth. Shaun Marsh gets another chance in the middle order alongside his brother but you would think he’s approaching the last chance saloon.
West Indies look set to go in with the four seamers. Jerome Taylor, Kemar Roach and of course the captain Jason Holder are certain starters. Shannon Gabriel and Carlos Brathwaite look set to fight it out for the other spot. Shai Hope could be ousted as opener.
The Bellerive Oval in Hobart is the venue where the series begins. Historically this hasn’t always been on the Test match rota but with six matches in this summer they get their first Test since 2012.
This will be the 12th time a Test has been held here. Australia are very strong on this ground, as they are on most of their home grounds in fairness. They have won eight of the previous 11 games here, losing just once. West Indies lost their only visit here in 2005.
The tourists might not be too downhearted at what they see on this ground in terms of the wicket though because all the talk is that there is plenty of grass on the track which will keep their seamers interested and the last two matches here certainly support the quicks having a nice time of it.
That might well be as good as it gets though for the Windies. They might have a period or two where their bowlers look threatening but Australia will win this barring something quite incredible. They’re no price though.
One I am prepared to take a chance on though is the performance line of Jerome Taylor. Taylor produced one of the best spells I’ve seen this year when these two met in Jamaica earlier in the year and he’ll put the frighteners up the Australian batsmen with his pace and swing.
His line is at 72 so if he takes four wickets that is covered but even three wickets would give us a chance because he can hold a bat and sneak 12 runs in two innings. The danger to the bet is Australia only batting once but that was the danger in both matches in the Caribbean yet they batted twice in both games there.
Australia might not bat two full innings but Taylor will get the new ball so we might not need them to. Recent history on this ground suggests the potential for a low scoring game so maybe there is more of a chance of a longer second innings for the home side. Either way the line is low enough to have a go at.
Adam Voges made his first Test century on debut when these two sides met in the Caribbean earlier in the year and at 13/2 he’s overpriced to top score in Australia’s first innings here.
Of course Dave Warner and Steve Smith are worthy favourites but unlike in Dominica there is no Clarke so Voges will bat at four in this match. It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that the main two fail and even if they don’t Voges has an 83* and a 119 to his name this summer already.
He’s in the sort of form to justify a punt on him top scoring first time around at a big price for a number four especially as the Windies attack isn’t ‘that’ bad.
Back J.Taylor’s Performance Pts – 72&Over for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back A.Voges Top Australia 1st Inns Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 7.50 with Coral
