All signs point to an Australia whitewash

Australia hammered Sri Lanka by an innings and then some in the first Test and it looks like it will take a massive effort from Sri Lanka, and something to go wrong for the hosts, to stop Ricky Ponting's men from sealing a series whitewash by winning the second Test, which begins in Hobart on Friday.

In many ways, it is surprising that bet365 make Australia only 4/11 (1.44) to win the match. Sri Lanka are 15/2 and the draw is 3/1. The Aussies were so much in control in Brisbane that it's hard to see how Sri Lanka can turn it around.

Hobart used to be a batting paradise. A pitch as hard as a rock, with little or no variation in movement. But things have changed a little in recent years, and though it should still be good to bat on, the bowlers should take some heart.

However, Australia's record at the Bellerive Oval is predictably impressive. They have won five of the seven Tests to be played there. Both draws came against New Zealand, one when the weather intervened - as it sometimes does in Tasmania - and the other when New Zealand hung on for dear life in the second innings.

Ricky Ponting, on his home ground, tops the betting to be his side's leading runscorer in the first innings, at 3/1. Though he did smash one big unbeaten century there, Ponting actually averages just 44 in Hobart so a big innings is not a certainty by any means.

The bludgeoning Matt Hayden and Mike Hussey are both 4/1, Phil Jaques is 9/2 after his maiden Test century and Michael Clarke is 15/2. I wouldn't look too far beyond these five, and would probably favour Clarke. The right-hander often gets on a roll in Tests so after a century of his own in Brisbane, he could be good value. Andrew Symonds is 8/1 and Adam Gilchrist at 10/1 chance.

Kumar Sangakkara is the Sri Lanka favourite at 3/1, while Mahela Jayawardene is 7/2 and Sanath Jayasuriya and Marva Atappatu are both 4/1 chances. Michael Vandort is 5/1, Upul Tharanga 11/2 and Thilan Samaraweera and Chamara Silva are both 7/1.

Despite the obvious threat of Muttiah Muralitharan, who needs just seven more wickets to break Shane Warne's Test wickets record of 708, Sri Lanka look really up against it and I have to recommend an Australia win, even at just 4/11.