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SECOND TEST: AUSTRALIA VS WEST INDIES – GABBA (JAN 25-29)
After a brisk first test in Adelaide, Australia and West Indies will conclude the Frank Worrel Trophy under lights at the Gabba, beginning on Thursday. The Aussies prevailed in the opening match last week, running out winners by ten wickets thanks mostly to a dominant performance with the ball as Josh Hazlewood (match figures of 9/79) helped to dismantle the visitors for 188 and 120, while an otherwise unconvincing effort with the bat was propped up by a sparkling 119 off just 134 balls from man of the match Travis Head. For the Windies, the stunning debut of paceman Shamar Joseph was undoubtedly the highlight with the 24-year-old first spanking 36 from number 11 before claiming the prized scalp of Steve Smith with his first ball in test cricket on his way to figures of 5/94, however he was let down by his batsmen who simply had no answer to the World Test Champion's attack on a challenging wicket.
Once again the Australians are a very short price to complete a much-expected 2-0 series sweep, while the prospect of heavy rain towards the back end of the test, if we get there, sees the draw in single figures with an improbable West Indian victory at huge odds. Given that there is yet to be a drawn day-night test and with the first test barely lasting two days, we can't really be going near the draw, although Queensland has already been on the receiving end of some wild weather this summer and the early forecasts are suggesting some significant falls which complicates matters further.
In an incredibly inexperienced line-up West Indian keeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva is one of the visitors more seasoned campaigners with 25 tests under his belt and a couple of notable performances including 92 in just his third test away against Bangladesh and an unbeaten ton in a memorable test victory against England. The Windies' top three boast the strongest records but batting against the new pink ball is historically a tough assignment, whilst Da Silva arguably has more pedigree with the bat than some of his middle-order compatriots and thus shapes as excellent value to top-score for the underdogs.
Betting Strategy
BACK: Joshua Da Silva Top West Indies 1st Inns Batter at $12.00+ for 0.5 units 
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