EXPERT CRICKET TIPS: WEST INDIES V AUSTRALIA
THIRD TEST: WEST INDIES V AUSTRALIA, JULY 13-17: SABINA PARK
The series may be decided but there is still plenty at stake for both sides as the West Indies and Australia clash in the third test at Sabina Park, beginning on Sunday. The Aussies took an unassailable 2-0 lead in Grenada with a 133-run win in another match that was dominated by the bowlers with the Windies rolled for 253 and 143 off the back of a more involves test from veteran spinner Nathan Lyon (match figures of 6/117) and while the visitors’ top-order again struggled, they were propped up by a pair of key partnerships between Beau Webster (60) and Alex Carey (63) in the first innings, and Cameron Green (52) and Steve Smith (71) in the second.
The Calypso Kings were left to rue the decision to omit specialist tweaker Jamil Worrican as whilst their new-ball bowlers made plenty of in-roads, they were unable to run through the Australians in the same way they did in Bridgetown, although once again it was the failings of their batsmen that really cost them with Brandon Smith’s first innings 75 their only half-century of the series thus far.
Betting Strategy
BACK: (Top Australia 1st Inns Batter) Steve Smith for 1 unit (Rated at $3.75)
The prices for this test largely reflect what we saw prior to the second test with Australia again short-priced favourites ahead of their opponents with the draw once more at big odds despite more favourable conditions for batting expected in Kingston. Given what the Windies have served up with the bat in this series so far, it’s difficult to be with either of the less fancied options, although neither do we want to be backing the Aussies at such a skinny price in a dead-rubber and with their own concerns at the crease. Those unconvincing returns with the bat do point us in a certain direction though with Smith looking a class above during his second innings knock and given that he averages an absurd 89.25 in the Caribbean including a sublime 199 in his only other test at this ground, we think he presents as good value to top-score again.
