Australia v Sri Lanka ODI Series

By Bigjoe

Commences Wednesday 3rd November, 03.20 GMT

Just three weeks before the start of the Ashes Series, Australia find themselves in a near crisis after a string of disappointing results. The rot started when they could only draw the Test series ion England against Pakistan. It continued with a 4-1 ODI series loss to England, followed by a Test and ODI series defeats in India.

The Aussies would have been looking for a pre ashes boost in these games against Sri Lanka, but the T20 encounter saw them emphatically lose again. Now the action switches to the ODI format with three games in five days.

Australia will be boosted by the return in this format of their skipper Ricky Ponting and the other main man, Mike Hussey. The bowling should also benefit from the return of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle and the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Sri Lanka have historically always struggled in Australian conditions, but that T20 win and the Aussies recent decline should give them confidence that they can use this series to turn the corner. They have a perfect mix of experienced campaigners Sangakarra, Jayawardne, Dilshan, Murali and Malinga along with up and coming young stars Randiv, Kapugedera, Mathews and Perera.

Australia will have been looking to this series for a moral boosting win to send them into the ashes on a high. I fear though that it could backfire as Sri Lanka are more then capable of continuing the Aussies nightmare run of results and far from going into  the first ashes test on a high, they could see their confidence further eroded.

The market is sticking stubbornly with the Aussies and makes them extremely short priced favourites. It seems to be in self denial mode and believes it’s only a matter of time before the Aussies return to winning ways. I believe the market is wrong, I believe the decline of Australia in all formats in recent months is a sign of things to come. Sri Lanka are an improving side and they will be more then a handful in this series and it’s them that represent great value.

My suggested bets therefore are:

In The Series Outright Market:

BACK Sri Lanka to win for 5 points @ 3.0 at Ladbrokes, Totesport, and Boylesports

In The Series correct Score Market:

BACK Sri Lanka to win 2-1 for 2 points @ 3.75 at Ladbrokes

BACK Sri Lanka to win 3-0 for 1 point @ 13.0 at Ladbrokes

Bigjoe