There’s more cricket to delight in – and we have the best Australia v Sri Lanka 1st Test Match betting tips for you. Followers of Australian cricket must dust themselves down quickly following defeat to India and turn their attentions to the upcoming Test Match series with Sri Lanka which gets underway on Thursday. All the pressure is on the home nation and fans are now demanding to see an improved effort as they seek to win the scalp of a respected opponent that would help put last year’s ball-tampering scandal to bed.
The 1st Test Match goes on at the Brisbane Cricket Ground this week with the coin toss expected to go up around 3.00am British time. There will be no lack of interest in this one as we head into what will be another enthralling year of international cricket; however, the mood is low amongst the home support and that heaps pressure on this Australian team to deliver a big performance.
Will the host nation grab the wins needed to secure the series, or is there more pain in the post? It’ll be great entertainment finding out and bookmakers have priced up a long list of markets to help followers add a little more interest to the occasion.
Different Markets
Bet on the winner of the 1st Test Match and series outright or push the boat out a little. You could try your luck in one of the many special markets, such as top Australian batsman; top home bowler; the player to score most runs for Sri Lanka or the tourist destined to take most wickets. There’s plenty more besides and punters really are spoiled for choice. Bookies are even taking bets on the winner of the coin toss, trading 10/11 heads – 10/11 tails. It should be seen as little more than a fun bet to place, but it could get you off to a winning start.
India Heap on the Misery
The hosts were looking to win their first Test match since the ball-tampering scandal that has caused mass outrage amongst followers of Australian cricket when matched with India; however, they left the tour with more questions than answers. Cricket Australia organisers had forced sweeping changes in an attempt to bring followers back into the fold; however, they know the only way to win back the trust of fans is by claiming victory over ranked sides. They failed to do that when slipping to defeat against India on their own patch.
The visitors were sublime from the moment they started the tour, claiming the four-game series with a 2-1 score; the final leg was settled as a draw due to the weather to deny India a greater margin of victory. That was the victor’s first Test series win in this part of the world and that achievement wasn’t wasted on them. Captain Virat Kohli called it the finest moment of his career. We thought, having made history, they would take their foot off the gas during the One Day International Series, but that wasn’t the case.
Trying for a Fight Back
Australia fired back to take the opening ODI match by 34 runs; however, that seemed to irritate the on form visitors who fired back to win the next two of a three-game series, snatching a six wickets win and seven wickets win; this was enough to ensure the majority of the spectators left had nothing to cheer. There was no crumb of comfort for Australia as India waved goodbye and returned home triumphant. That’s why it was a little surprising to see bookies price Oz are hot favourites to win in Brisbane, the hosts available at no more than Coral’s 1/4 to beat Sri Lanka, some firms as tight as 2/9.
Sri Lanka Have High Hopes
Sri Lanka’s recent form hasn’t been an awful lot better than that of their opponents; however, they will board the plane for this match with reason to be confident, given the fact team-morale in the opposing dressing room appears to be at an all-time low. If Sri Lanka can upset the flow of play and drag a few moans and groans out of home support with very little patience left in the tank, it could give them a strong platform on which to build an attack on the favourites. They’ll be all too aware of the problems Australia have.
It also shouldn’t be easily forgotten that Sri Lanka is a talented team who, under normal circumstances, is good enough to hold their own against most on the circuit. They suffered a crushing defeat in front of their own fans by England recently. Having said that, they didn’t seem to do an awful lot wrong during that series and were beaten by an English side in the mood and firing on all cylinders. We don’t see it as often as followers would like but England in full flight is a force that’ll flatten most. As such, the beaten team can’t afford to be too disheartened by the whitewash.
Taken a Battering
Sri Lanka also ended on the wrong side of the result when travelling to New Zealand late last year. They drew the 1st Test but went on to lose the 2nd by a mammoth 423 runs. In the three-game One Day International series the visitors lost 3-0, before rolling over for a 35-run defeat under Twenty20 rules. A battering across the board and that goes some way to explaining why bookies are confident enough to offer a bulky 13/2 (Bet365) on the away win, a draw yours at 8/1 – best with Unibet.
Go With the Favourites
This is a meeting of two sides down on their luck and feeling the pressure of needing a win. Australia are a good side with talented players and there were small shoots of recovery during that loss to India, so we’re with traders on this one. Back the locals to get back to winning ways with a 1st Test victory.
They are 1/6 at 888Sport to clinch the series, but that’s not a price for us. Those after something slightly bigger to follow can take a chance on the 2-0 win in the series correct score betting, yours at 4/9 when betting with 888Sport.