The Trans-Tasman series heads to Sydney for the final Test of the Australian summer. In one of the most highly anticipated Test series on Australian shores for quite some time, the Black Caps have been incredibly disappointing losing the first two Tests by 296 and 247 runs. New Zealand have been undermanned with the ball due to the injuries of Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson however the batting line up has been incredibly poor, only passing 200 once in their four innings so far.
Trent Boult will miss with a broken hand with his likely replacement being former New South Wales off spinner William Somerville. Josh Hazlewood won’t make a return at the SCG as Mitch Swepson has been brought into the squad, however it will be unlikely Australia will make a change given their great form as well as the fact that Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head provide enough quality with the ball. Australia are looking to complete a clean sweep of the series round out their first perfect Australian Test summer since the 2013/14 Ashes.
Australia vs New Zealand 3rd Test Preview and Betting Tips
Fri Jan 3, SCG, 10:30am (AEDT)
Australia
Steve Smith has an imposing record at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In Just five test matches Smith has scored 548 runs at an average of 68.50, with 2 centuries and 4 half centuries. Smith’s last seven innings at his home ground include knocks of 54*, 115, 7, 117, 71, 24, 59 and 83. Smith finally got back in the runs at the MCG with a gritty 85 from 242 deliveries and although he might not be in the best touch at the moment, Smith wills himself to big scores, he clearly has the best mental attributes of any batsmen in the world at the moment, he always finds a way. New Zealand will find it difficult to employ it’s negative short ball tactics against Smith on what is expected to be a flat pitch that will provide plenty of spin as the Test wears on. Smith will be looking to make a big impact in the final Test match of the summer, he’s an excellent choice to be Australia’s top run scorer in the first innings, at $3.25 with BetEasy.
1st Innings
Smith Top AUS Batsman
$3.50
Australia’s world class paceman have attracted all the headlines this summer as they have torn through Pakistan and New Zealand. Nathan Lyon has quietly put together an impressive summer especially in second innings’, where he has taken hauls of 5/69, 4/63 and 4/61 in the second innings of his last three Test matches. Lyon’s Test record against New Zealand is also impressive, with 40 wickets at an average of 22.70. Lyon has showed he can extract plenty out of the Australian pitches and now he gets a chance to shine on a surface that is the most spin friendly in the country. Expect Lyon to put in a big performance on his home ground, solid value at $4.25 to be Australia’s leading wicket taker in the first innings with BetEasy.
1st Innings
Lyon Top AUS Bowler
$4.25
New Zealand
New Zealand have been embarrassed this series in all facets of the game, however their failures with the bat have been incredibly disappointing from the number two ranked Test team that have the number three ranked Test batsmen. Kane Williamson came into the series in good form after the two match series against England which he scored knocks of 51 and 104*, however since arriving on Aussie shores Williamson has only managed scores of 34, 14, 9 and 0. But it’s hard to see anyone outside of the Black Caps skipper standing up against the best bowling attack in the world. Overall Williamson has a fantastic record against Australia with 699 runs at an average of 41.12 and with their backs against the wall, expect the skipper to stand up to the Aussies. Look no further than Williamson to be New Zealand’s top run scorer in the first innings, at $3.25 with BetEasy.
1st Innings
Williamson Top NZ Batsman
$3.25
New Zealand haven’t had any luck with injuries as Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson have missed the majority of the series through injury, and it’s clear to see that the Aussies won’t be challenged by sub 130 kilometre per hour bowling. Neil Wagner has been a workhorse for New Zealand this series, taking 14 wickets at an average of 20.29. It’s not textbook, it’s not pretty, but Wagner keeps charging in and taking wickets for the Black Caps. On an SCG surface that won’t offer much the seamers, expect Wagner to bowl plenty of overs and with the lack of a quality spin bowler in the side, Wagner to be New Zealand’s leading wicket taker at $3 with BetEasy in the first innings is an easy choice.
1st Innings
Wagner Top NZ Bowler
$3.00
Prediction
Australia have been simply dominant this summer, undefeated in all formats, two innings victories against Pakistan and two victories against New Zealand by over 240 runs. The Black Caps bowling line up doesn’t have the pace to challenge the Aussies once the ball stops swinging and their batsmen have failed to show up. Australia on the other hand, have been elite with both bat and ball. The batting load has been spread with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head scoring the bulk of the runs, with solid contributions from Smith, Paine and Warner. Australia has only lost once at the Sydney Cricket Ground since 2004 and it’s hard to see that changing this week. Australia will round out it’s first perfect Test summer since 2013/14 and complete a clean sweep against New Zealand. Australia are at $1.35 with BetEasy, a reliable anchor for your multi.
