Australia hot favourites again
They may not have been able to defend a total of 331 in the final one-dayer against New Zealand last week but the world's top side are likely to rebound imediately when they take on South Africa in a three-Test series, starting in Perth on Friday
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As expected, Australia are big odds-on favourites at 2/11 (1.18) to to come out on top after the three encounters, with Melbourne and Sydney the other two grounds to be used, over the Christmas and New Year period. South Africa are 10/1 (11.00) and the draw is 5/1 (6.00).
Click here to bet on Australia v South Africa at bet365
Statistically speaking, it doesn't look too good for South Africa. It's just under a whopping 13 years since Australia last lost a Test series at home, when West Indies came away with a 2-1 triumph. South Africa have never won a series in Australia and they have only won five of their 29 Tests there. It is four years since the two sides last met in Australia, when the home side won all three Tests. And the South Africans have not won a series against Australia since their readmittance to the Test arena in 1991. Of course, the past 13 years have coincided with Australia being on top of the world and while South Africa are a decent side, they are not quite so good on foreign soil. They have won their past two series in the West Indies, but apart from that, their last notable away series win was in 1999/2000 when they stunned India 2-0.
However, it is not all doom and gloom for South Africa as they have lost just one of their past 10 Tests. Graeme Smith's side have been growing in confidence and after a couple of years of rebuilding, they appear to be getting a decent side together. The experience is still there in the likes of Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis is a world class batsman who holds the batting together, Makhaya Ntini has the pace to trouble the Australia batsmen and Justin Kemp has been a real find in the middle order.
Though Perth, venue for the first Test, is the quickest of the three pitches to be used, the tourists will be well aware of the danger of Shane Warne, who has taken 101 wickets at just over 24 against them.
Of the three venues, there is little to choose in terms of Australia's record. In 32 Tests in Perth, they have won 19 and lost just seven. In Melbourne, they have won 54 and lost 28 of their 97 matches, and in Sydney, they have won 49 and lost 27 of their 93 matches.
bet365 make Australia 4/11 (1.36) to win in Perth - they have won the first Test in each of their past nine series - while South Africa are 6/1 (7.00) and the draw - never that likely when Australia are playing - is a 7.2 (4.50) chance.
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's new betting correspondent
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