Article: West Indies v Australia 1st ODI .... Midsummer Madness or Midsummer Dream?
The ODI series kicks off on Tuesday at the Arnos Vale ground in St Vincent .
Prices on the exchanges:
Australia 1.39
Windies 3.55
Ok I accept that Aussies should be favourites, but 1.39, not on your Ned Kelly I say!
1.39 on a ground where Windies have won 14 out of 16 games ? No thanks!
1.39 on a team that's lost 3 out of their last 4 ODI series? No thanks!
1.39 on a team that has lost the services of the best ever opening partnership in Hayden/Gilchrist, and could again be missing Symmons in this match? No thanks!
1.39 on a bowling attack that has failed to defend scores of 434, 336 and 346 in recent times, No thanks!
This 1.39 is surely midsummer madness by the markets. In the three Tests and the Twenty20 game, Australia started around 1.40 pre-match each time, yet EACH time they went on to trade odds against, failing to win two of those 4 games.
I think its odds on that they will again trade at odds against in this match, so anyone laying them should once again be in a position to lock in a profit at least.
Australia remain a formidable batting side and are capable of scoring big. They treated the Twenty20 game as a knockabout and Ponting, Hussey and Clarke did not even bother to have a bat. But in this format, they will take it more seriously and be a lot tougher to beat.
However, it's their bowling that remains their weakness.
Lee can obviously turn it on any time, but the supporting cast of Johnson, Bracken, Hopes is too one dimensional and relying too much on new ball wickets.
Once the shine goes off that new ball, they will struggle to contain the Windies in the absence of a class spinner.
Ok enough about the Aussies, what about the Windies.
3.55 about a team that will be full of confidence and have momentum after the Twenty20 win? Yes please!
3.55 about a team that welcomes back Gayle to partner the explosive Xavier Marshall at the top of the order? Yes please!
3.55 on a team that has the better collective bowling line-up on a pitch they love and are familiar with? Yes please!
3.55 on a team that has won 14 from 16 games on this ground, including 2 against a stronger Australian side? Yes please!
On the negative side, it appears Sarwan and Chanderpaul still got niggling injuries and a decision on them will be made nearer the start. But if they miss out, there will be an opportunity for big hitting Kieron Pollard to show his talent in this format.
On the bowling front, Windies look like going in with Taylor, Edwards, Bravo, Sammy and Benn. This is a balanced attack and on home pitches I believe they will outperform the Aussie attack throughout this series.
Judging by past scores, this is a low scoring ground and batting could be tricky.
A low scoring affair could also help the Windies as chasing a low target will give them confidence, and if they bat first, they know from past experience on this pitch that they could defend even a moderate total.
I guess you can work out from the above what my suggested bet is for this game, but just in case you're still wondering, it is:
BACK West Indies for 3 points@ 3.55 on Betfair
Join me and we could all be grateful for this midsummer's dream price on the Windies.
Bigjoe


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