Got my nights mixed up so late sticking these bets up. 2nd test begins in Hobart at 11.30pm our time.
Don't normally get involved in the match outright at the beginning but that's a big price for a talented squad and so even though I'm on them at 9/4 I'm having a go at Sri Lanka.
2pts Sri Lanka to win 2nd Test 10/1 Blue Square
Sri Lanka are a daft price here. They weren't the 1st side to go and completely balls everything up in Brisbane but they should learn from their mistake here at Hobart. Not choosing Lasith Malinga was a huge error but he's pretty much certain to play here. Word is it will be Chaminda Vaas who will make way for him. Another welcome addition to the Sri Lankan side will be Kumar Sangakkara who although he faces a fitness test, expects to play. Thilan Samaraweera appears most likely to make way.
Australia have no such problems with their side and will go in with the same XI which served them so well in Brisbane despite Michael Clarke's tight hamstring. Australia have never lost a test match here and a win would give Ricky Ponting a 14th straight test victory. This pitch will turn though and it may turn early which brings Murali into play. The spin wizard needs 7 more wickets to overtake Shane Warne at the top of the wicket taking charts so he'll be up for this match. The pitch is also likely to have less pace and bounce in it so the Sri Lankan batsmen will be more at home here.
Everything is set fair for a decent test match and Sri Lanka, with their talented squad shouldn't be double figures just because they made a pigs ear of the 1st test and so with that in mind I'll have a dabble on the Sri Lankan's.
10pts Sri Lanka +137.5 runs 1st Inns Lead 10/11 Sportingbet
As I've already eluded to Sri Lanka look a much better side coming into this match than they was at Brisbane. The addition of Kumar Sangakkara to their batting lineup is a welcome one which should provide more runs and Lasith Malinga strengthening the bowling attack should in theory restrict Australia's run scoring. The pitch is likely to make this a closer affair too so this looks way too big a handicap for us to ignore so going with SL is the call.
10pts M.Muralitharan's Performance Pts 108&Over 5/6 Bet365
Points are scored as follows: 1pt per run, 10pts per catch & 20pts per wicket.
Mutiah Muralitharan was unlucky only to take 2 wickets in the 1st test. Australia batting 1st had a lot to do with that but Ricky Ponting expects the Aussies to have to bat twice here and so do I. That will give Murali 2 innings to get the 6 wickets we need. 5 wickets and a catch would give us the bacon too. This pitch is likely to turn and could even turn on day 1 so even if the Aussies bat 1st, Murali will always be in the game at some point. He can get the best batsmen in the Australia side out but if he happens to be bowling when the tail are in he could go through them so overs has to be the play on his performance.
10pts M.Jayawardene 61 runs and over 9/4 Blue Square (1st Inns Only)
Mahela Jayawardene looked in good touch in the 2nd innings at The Gabba and with this pitch not having quite the pace and bounce of that one he should be happier here. There's every chance he could find himself batting with Kumar Sangakkara at some point in this 1st inns which he would welcome as they put on the world record partnership last year. On a pitch he'll enjoy more with surroundings he'll enjoy more Jayawardene should be expected to go well in the 1st inns.
1pt ew F.Maharoof Top Sri Lankan Batsman 25/1 Boylesports (1st Inns Only) (1/4 1,2,3)
Farveez Maharoof made 21 and 18 in the 1st test at The Gabba but he looked good in making those runs but was found out by the extra pace and bounce. This is a surface more normal to general conditions and I'd expect him to have a decent game with the bat here. He's got a solid defence and can score pretty much all around the wicket. Although I expect this Sri Lankan batting lineup to fare better here that's not guaranteed and at 25/1 Maharoof is a nice price to top score or make the top 3 at the very worst.
2pts S.MacGill Man of the match 14/1 Bet365
If this pitch turns as it's reputed to do then Stuart MacGill should have a big game. He bowled very well in Brisbane without the rewards he perhaps deserved but sometimes that means he'll get a couple of cheap ones here. Spin has had a factor at this ground before and if MacGill's in the wickets then 14/1 could be big come the end of the match.