New Zealand a lengthy 11/1 for second Test
New Zealand are out to 11/1 to win the second Test and level the series 1-1
Andrew Hall
24-Nov-2004
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New Zealand are out to 11/1 to win the second Test and level the series 1-1. Australia are 3/10 to win again, while the draw is 11/4.
Australia have named an unchanged 12 for Friday's match at Adelaide, while New Zealand will be looking for a vastly improved performance.
Adelaide history
New Zealand have never won at Adelaide, their two previous matches having resulted in an innings defeat in 1973/4, and a high-scoring draw in 1987-88. There is some good news for New Zealand, though: Australia lost their most recent Test at the Adelaide Oval, to India last season. Ricky Ponting scored a magnificent 242 in Australia's first innings of 556 in that game, but Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman came back superbly to allow India to post 523. Then Ajit Agarkar took 6 for 41 as Australia subsided to 196 all out in their second innings, and India chased down their target for the loss of six wickets.
New Zealand have never won at Adelaide, their two previous matches having resulted in an innings defeat in 1973/4, and a high-scoring draw in 1987-88. There is some good news for New Zealand, though: Australia lost their most recent Test at the Adelaide Oval, to India last season. Ricky Ponting scored a magnificent 242 in Australia's first innings of 556 in that game, but Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman came back superbly to allow India to post 523. Then Ajit Agarkar took 6 for 41 as Australia subsided to 196 all out in their second innings, and India chased down their target for the loss of six wickets.
High first-innings scores from both sides, followed by meagre second-innings efforts, have characterised recent matches at Adelaide - this has been the pattern in each of the past four matches there.
Top Team Batsman
In the First Innings Leading Team Batsman markets, Michael Clarke comes in to 11/2 for Australia following his maiden Test century on home soil, while Adam Gilchrist, who also contributed a vital innings, stays out at 8/1. Matthew Hayden remains favourite in this market, in spite of an average of just 28 in his last five matches.
In the First Innings Leading Team Batsman markets, Michael Clarke comes in to 11/2 for Australia following his maiden Test century on home soil, while Adam Gilchrist, who also contributed a vital innings, stays out at 8/1. Matthew Hayden remains favourite in this market, in spite of an average of just 28 in his last five matches.
For New Zealand, their first-Test centurion Jacob Oram comes in to 13/2, while Nathan Astle, Mark Richardson and Mathew Sinclair all at 9/2 behind the favourite Stephen Fleming at 4/1.
Man of the Match
Hayden is also favourite in the Man of the Match market - he is priced at 15/2. Clarke took the award at Brisbane, and he is 11/1 to repeat the feat at Adelaide. Oram is by far the shortest-priced New Zealander, coming in to 11/1, but Fleming moves out to 12/1 following his 0 and 11 at Brisbane.
Hayden is also favourite in the Man of the Match market - he is priced at 15/2. Clarke took the award at Brisbane, and he is 11/1 to repeat the feat at Adelaide. Oram is by far the shortest-priced New Zealander, coming in to 11/1, but Fleming moves out to 12/1 following his 0 and 11 at Brisbane.
Of the longer-priced players, Justin Langer stands out as the value bet in this market. He is 14/1 (compared with fellow opener Hayden at 15/2). His average is marginally higher than Hayden's in the last five matches (just over 29). At some point, the Australian openers will get back to their usual billing - why not at Adelaide?
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.