Australia backed to go well in Melbourne

Stuart McGill will probably line up alongside Shane Warne at the MCG © Getty Images

South Africa performed superbly on the final day to get a draw in the first Test in Perth, but they can expect Australia to come back hard at them in the second Test, which begins in Melbourne on Boxing Day. bet365 make them 4/9 (1.44) favourites to triumph at the MCG, while South Africa are 11/2 (6.50) and the draw is 11/4 (3.75).

There's no doubt that South Africa will be buoyant going into Melbourne, not least because the draw meant it was the first time in 10 series that Australia have not won the first Test - an amazing run. However, while Perth's pacy pitch offered plenty of assistance, it also negated some of Shane Warne's magic - Melbourne will be a different kettle of fish altogether. While in Perth he has managed a mere 26 wickets in 10 Tests, in Melbourne, he has taken 43 in nine, right on his overall average mark.

As if Warne was not enough of a handful for the South Africa batsmen, they may well also have to deal with Stuart MacGill, who could probably turn the ball on ice. The leg-spinner has been included in the 12 and there has to be a good chance he will play. Averaging a shade under five wickets per Test, MacGill has bettered that at the MCG with 19 wickets in three Tests.

Australia have won 54 and lost just 28 of their 97 matches at the MCG - a statsitic that shows their dominance but also the remote possibility of a draw - only 15 in 197 Tests. Having said that, since their readmittance to world cricket, South Africa have managed to draw two of their three MCG Tests, even if the first of those was largely due to rain.