It is all happening in cricket. The West Indies and Australia are about to lock horns in the final Test of their three match series while England and South Africa are about to engage hostilities in a four Test series.
New Zealand and Pakistan just concluded their Test series. It finished at 1-1 and a result was prevented in the final match when the weather had the final say. It was a very even series and both sides played some quality cricket. There is still a gap between these two and the top sides. They just aren’t consistent enough and the better sides will take advantage of this.
Over in Perth, the stakes seems to be quite high for what is a dead rubber. But then again when Australia plays is there such a thing? The media will be on their back for losing to an insipid West Indian side that rolled over at the Gabba. Cricket betting has Australia as huge favorites so heaven help them should they not win. The unsettled nature of the Australian side continues. Clint McKay is the eighth player to make his debut for Australia in 2009. He comes in for Peter Siddle. The attack in now Johnson, Bollinger, Hauritz and McKay. You have an attack consisting of someone who has played 28 Tests, someone who has played two, a spinner who struggles and a debutant.
The turnover is quite remarkable. For last year’s Test at the WACA the attack was Johnson, Siddle, Lee and Krejza. The year before against India it was Johnson, Lee, Clark and Tait. Johnson is the only common element all three times. Shane Watson will help somewhat and is bowling well.
Up the top of the order the pressure is on Michael Hussey. He has batted for a while and looks to be out of form. Sometimes it’s better to get a first ball duck then to scratch around for 30 runs in three hours and look out of sorts. It isn’t just that he gets runs but Hussey has to look comfortable out in the middle which is something that he doesn’t.
Over in South Africa, no one is quite sure what is going to happen here. The punters seems to favor South Africa but England has the ability and talent to win. Sure the loss of Andrew Flintoff is a big one but they will be boosted by the return of Kevin Pietersen. They also have Jonathan Trott for a full series. He excelled against Australia in his one and only Test and promises a lot.
David Wiseman writes about cricket. He also writes about harness betting.