Pink ball cricket returns as Australia face the West Indies in the second and final match of this test series.
As expected, Australia cruised to victory in the opening encounter. However, with skipper Pat Cummins out for this contest under lights, perhaps the West Indies will put up more of a fight this time around.
Josh Nevett takes a close look at the contest with his free preview and cricket betting tips below.
Australia vs West Indies 2nd Test Preview & Betting Tips
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Thursday December 8th, 3:00pm (AEDT)
Squads
Australia: Pat Cummins ( c ), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite ( c ), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Shamarh Brooks, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Anderson Phillip, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales, Devon Thomass
Match Preview
Australia were the shortest of favourites in Game 1, and they proved their worth by beating the West Indies to the tune of 164 runs.
The result was set up by a huge first innings with the bat, in which Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both raised the bat for double centuries as the hosts tallied 4-598 before declaring.
Opener Usman Khawaja and middle-order dasher Travis Head also got in on the act, posting 65 and 99, respectively.
From there the game turned out to be a bit of a slog, but the outcome was never in doubt. Australia’s bowlers shared the wickets as the West Indies put up 283 in the first dig thanks to the openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul.
It was a similar story in the second innings – set a huge chase after more Marnus heroics (104* off 110), the West Indies grinded their way to 333 off 110 overs before succumbing to Australia’s seasoned spinner Nathan Lyon.
‘The GOAT’ took 6-128 in an impressive display, forced to bowl bulk overs after Cummins succumbed to a quad injury which has ruled him out of the second test.
That brings us to the upcoming encounter in Adelaide, which is sure to be a spectacle as always.
The loss of Cummins is Australia’s only change. He will be replaced by Scott Boland, who has a big reputation to live up to after he dismantled England at the MCG last summer.
As such, expect the Aussie attack to test the West Indies again.
The West Indies have not yet confirmed their XI for the Adelaide test but it’s fair to assume that they will make some changes of their own.
The blunt Windies bowling attack was only able to take six wickets in the opening game, with Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder wicketless, despite those two being the pick of the bowlers.
As such, I can see some rotation amongst the quicks and the batting ranks.
Shamarh Brooks was brought in as a concussion substitute for Nkumrah Bonner midway through Game 1, although he failed to impress with scores of 33 and 11.
Kyle Mayers and Joshua Da Silva also failed to trouble the scorers, so they may be in the firing line.
However, it’s hard to see any number of changes having an impact on this game. Brathwaite and Chanderpaul are the only batsmen who look likely to score well, and they will find the going tougher facing the pink ball under lights in this match. Furthermore, the bowlers just don’t have the pace or control required to break Australia’s deep batting line-up.
Expect another big win for Australia here.
Match Result: Australia to win
$1.13
Prop Bets
Starc took four wickets in the opening test, including three in the first innings (equal most), and he should go better in Adelaide. The left-arm swing bowler has taken 56 wickets in day-night tests, aided by the swinging pink ball that we wields confidently. With Cummins out of the picture, Starc is great value here.
Australia Top First Innings Wicket Taker – Mitchell Starc $4.00 (Ladbrokes)
I’m going back to the well with Smith. Australia’s batting marvel scored 220 runs in the first test without being dismissed and none of the West Indies bowlers look like removing him, not that they ever have previously. As the days go by 2022/23 is looking more and more like a Steve Smith summer.
Steve Smith To Score 50 in 1st Inns – $2.00 (Ladbrokes)
