Captains Ponting & Smith head the betting
The Super Series in Australia between the hosts and the Rest of the World is taking on added significance thanks to England's Ashes victory and bet365 have released a market for the respective highest scorers in the first innings of the one-off Test in Sy
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Even though it is basically an exhibition held over six days, Australia's players will treat this is a real Test match because they know they need to impress the selectors, while the Rest of the World side know this could be a great chance to get one over on the side that have dominated world cricket for the best part of a decade.
Click here to bet on the Super Series at bet365
Australia
For Australia, opener Justin Langer and captain Ricky Ponting share favouritism with bet365 at 7/2 (4.50) to top score in the first innings. Langer had a decent, if unspectacular Ashes series, but he averages 49 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, three better than his overall mark. The left-hander actually topped the averages and runs for the Aussies in the Ashes series, and he should have plenty of confidence at the moment.
Ponting, who played one fantastic innings in the Ashes and was the second top scorer, will be looking forward to returning to the SCG, where his average is a phenomenal 74. He also has the best average of the Australia batsmen over their past 10 innings, with 66.5, almost ten better than the next man, Adam Gilchrist. Gilly struggled in England but is a class batsman, and at 7/1 (8.00), he will have plenty of backers, particularly as he scored a hundred last time out at the SCG and averages almost 60 there.
Michael Clarke, who showed plenty of promise in the Ashes, is third favourite at 11/2 (6.50) while Simon Katich, who averages 127 in his two previous Tests at the SCG, is a 6/1 (7.00) bet, the same as Brad Hodge, who will be making his debut. Further down the order, Shane Watson is 14/1 (15.00), while Shane Warne is 33/1 (34.00) and Brett Lee 66/1 (67.00).
Rest of the World
The Rest of the World Team is packed with truly world class players, and it's not often you get to see Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Inzamam-ul-Haq bat in the same line-up. Indeed, the likely top six all average over 50 in Test cricket, which is a fantastic achievement. Captain Graeme Smith, Brian Lara and Jacques Kallis top the betting on 4/1 (5.00).
Smith averages 55.50 but has never played a Test in Australia and it'll be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of being skipper. Lara, of course, has plenty of experience in Australia and few who saw it will ever forget his fantastic 277 for West Indies against the Aussies in 1992/3. The great left-hander averages 68.60 at the SCG and will be keen to impress ahead of his side's tour to Australia. Jacques Kallis, one of the best all-rounders in the world, has only played at the SCG twice but averages more than 50 overseas.
India opener Virender Sehwag is next in the betting at 9/2 (5.50), while Rahul Dravid could be the bet at the same price. The brilliant India middle-order batsman averages a fantastic 64.68 outside his own country and also 52 at the SCG. England hero Andrew Flintoff is a 7/1 (8.00) chance, while Inzamam-ul-Haq, a late call-up to the side, is a 5/1 (6.00) bet.
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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