BOXING DAY TEST
AFTER 10 months, the monkey is off their back, with Australia levelling the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at one-all thanks to a rousing win in Perth. The Perth pitch proved an absolute beauty with plenty in it but Melbourne is a different proposition. In the past four years, the MCG’s iconic Boxing Day Test has provided two draws and two Australian wins. The draws have come against resilient opposition in India and England, while the results have been romps against meek West Indies and Pakistan batting lineups. India were undermanned in Perth, with spinner Ravi Ashwin and batsman Rohit Sharma out with injury, and should they miss again in Melbourne, the Australians will have the upper hand. Should they play, India is likely to be at a very backable price. But of all the potential outcomes, the draw appears over the odds. Both batting line-ups have failed to put on any monster scores in the opening two Tests. , Neither pitch was going to be conducive to big scores. In this year’s Sheffield Shield, the MCG has hosted three matches, two of which have ended in draws. Of nine “completed” innings, there’s been three declarations, two of which came at scores above 400. Throw in the always unpredictable Melbourne weather and the draw, at north of $5, looks a nice bet.
NBL
HEAVYWEIGHTS Melbourne United and the Sydney Kings will meet for the third time this season on Sunday afternoon and it shapes as a fascinating betting contest. Melbourne have won the past nine games between the sides, but Sydney are favourites with Ladbrokes at a quote of $1.60. Sydney have won six of their past seven games as home favourites, but they are only 3-7 against Melbourne in the same scenario. Melbourne have won five of their past nine games as home underdogs for a big profit and they really do look like one of the best bets in the NBL this weekend. The other key contest this weekend is the battle between the Brisbane Bullets and the Perth Wildcats tonight. Perth have won two of their past three games in Brisbane and they will start this clash as narrow favourites, but the Wildcats have won only three of their past seven games as away favourites and the Bullets have an excellent record as home underdogs.