AUS vs NZL | 1st Test, day 1 - match prediction
It’s that time of the year once again. Pink Ball cricket in Australia has been one of the most significant features in their summer season for quite some time now. With the Trans-Tasman rivals making their way for a three match series, the excitement is oozing out from every cricket fan in the world. With both teams in red-hot form, I cannot wait till the match kicks-off in Perth. To double your excitement, I have hand-picked the best three odds from the game which is going to make richer overnight.
Warner to score big again
David Warner to score a fifty in the match @ 1.72
While you were wondering whether David Warner’s career reached a roadblock after a misfiring display in the Ashes, the left-hander did prove you wrong big time. With a couple of centuries in the last two matches against Pakistan, he is back to his former state and with the 335-run knock in Adelaide, he made a statement that he is going to blow away any team which comes in his way. In the past matches in Australia, he has scored at an average of 146.8. No, you’re not daydreaming, his scores – 335, 154, 56, 103 and 86! The Southpaw has scored a fifty in each of the last Test matches played at home.
If that doesn’t give you enough reason to back up the explosive batsman, wait till we give you more. Against New Zealand, he scores at a rate of 71.27 per innings which includes four centuries, one of which was a 253-run knock. Warner is riding the back of a triple-century and more importantly in a Day/Night Test. The upcoming fixture being a ‘Pink Ball’ Test will give him a go ahead to score at least a half-century in the match. On top of that, Warner averages 66.46 overall at home with 17 centuries and 12 fifties to his name. This bet looks pretty straightforward, just go ahead with it.
Starc’s track record speaks for itself
Mitchell Starc to be Australia’s Top first innings bowler @ 3.0
While David Warner has shown his prowess with the bat in the previous series, his compatriot from New South Wales shattered the opponents’ batting line-up with ease. Yes, I am talking about Mitchell Starc. The lanky speedster has been on fire after managing to play just one Test in the Ashes. His track record will give us more clarity of the form he’s been in. In the past five matches he played, Starc has scalped 20 wickets collectively in the first innings, while being the top bowler on three occasions. That’s some record, but we have saved the best yet.
To his credit, he has taken a total of 15 wickets in the first innings of the past three matches in Australia and was the top bowler in each case. He hasn’t spared New Zealand either, having scalped 15 wickets in the first innings in their last five head to head clashes. 3 out of the 5 times he has been the pick of the bowlers. If we make a cut-throat analysis of how he has fared in the first innings of home matches, the records glorify even more. Starc has picked up 134 wickets from 54 times he’s bowled in the first inning. Do not even think before placing your bet, just click!
Australia’s strong open stand
Highest 1st innings opening partnership – Australia @ 1.57
Australia has been a hard nut to crack when in their den, no matter how strong a team has travelled ‘Down Under’ with high aspirations. The recent battering of Pakistan is a prime example of how far a series can get lopsided when the hosts are on song. Speaking of domination, Australian openers David Warner and Joe Burns have been destructive of late with a 222-run opening stand of the first innings in the Brisbane Test against Pakistan. Even though they failed to put on big scores in the rest of the five matches, the complexion changes all together when they play at home. The stats don’t lie. They have put on a healthy 86.8 runs on an average in the past five Test matches for the opening stand. It includes two score north of 100, which proves that they enjoy playing at home.
On the other hand, if we look at the head to head stats, New Zealand have been outscored for the first wicket partnership in the first innings in the past five matches. The average run scored by the Kiwis in these matches were 21.4 while conceded at a rate of 58.60. Even though this is quite justifiable for our bet, the past five matches played between these two nations in Australia will give you a clearer picture. While the Black Caps have managed to have better opening stand in just two of the five occasions, they scored at a rate of 24.6 per innings. On the other hand, Australia have scored 55.6 in an average in the same time frame. In the last head to head match, Australia put up an opening stand of 112 against New Zealand’s 6. I think that will be enough for you invest your money on this bet.
