New Zealand low on confidence

Australia's Simon Katich has been rock solid for his team for the last 18 months and might be worth a bet at 12/1 to be the Man of the Match © Getty Images

After a morale-sapping loss in the first Test at Christchurch, New Zealand go into the second match of the series knowing that another defeat will leave them in danger of a whitewash. The Kiwis have named the same squad for the Wellington Test, but confidence is at a low ebb and it is difficult to imagine any result other than another Australian victory. Interestingly, the Basin Reserve is not a happy hunting ground for the New Zealanders: of the 42 Test matches played at the ground, the Kiwis have won only 11. Unsurprisingly therefore, bet365 rate New Zealand as 14/1 outsiders to win the match, whereas the rampant Aussies are hot favourites again at 4/9.

The one real ray of light for the New Zealanders in the first Test was the performance of Hamish Marshall, whose debut century in only his third Test put the Kiwis in a strong first-innings position. He will certainly believe that he can repeat the effort against the same Australian bowlers at Wellington and is offered at 4/1 to top his team's batting effort.

For the Australians however, it seems that whoever they pick will step up to the challenge and score important runs. Witness the way that Simon Katich responded to the call in Christchurch and posted his second Test century - in the process, along with the brilliant Adam Gilchrist, rescuing his side from a hefty first-innings deficit and swinging the match away from the demoralised New Zealanders into the Aussies' favour once again. You can rest assured that should the need arise, Katich can once again be depended upon to deliver essential middle-order runs. bet365 rate him at 12/1 to be Man of the Match.

A more traditional nemesis of the Kiwis is Ricky Ponting, who has a phenomenal record against Australia's neighbours. In the nine Tests he has played against them, he averages 67.55, more than 12 runs above his overall Test average. Few would be surprised if he led from the front at Wellington - which is why bet365 are giving odds of only 7/2 on Ponting top-scoring for his side.

bet365 odds
Hamish Marshall: Top Team Batsman 4/1 | Man of the Match 16/1
Simon Katich: Top Team Batsman 13/2 | Man of the Match 12/1
Ricky Ponting: Top Team Batsman 7/2 | Man of the Match 7/1