No surprises likely in Hamilton

Australia hammered New Zealand in the first Test and unless they take their foot off the gas I see no reason why the second and final Test, which begins in Hamilton on Friday, will be any different.

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Not many sides change a winning team, especially Australia, but Shane Watson seems set to return to open the batting instead of Phil Hughes, even though the left-hander played well in the first Test.

That should strengthen Australia's hand a little, or at least solidify it, and bet365 agree with me because they make it 4/9 that the Aussies win it, while New Zealand are 8/1 and the draw is 11/4.

Not only were New Zealand beaten, they also ended the match exhausted as they put in an awful lot of effort with the ball, to no avail. With so little time to recover, they are sure to struggle that bit more and that is not going to help them, obviously.

The Black Caps will cling to their good record in Hamilton, with seven wins and just three defeats in 16 Tests there. But the one time they played the Aussies there, in 2000, they lost in a relatively low-scoring match.

If they are go doing to do anything to stop it being a 2-0 loss, they will need some big performances with the bat. Ross Taylor is the obvious favourite to top-score in the first innings, at 3/1, with Martin Guptill 4/1, Peter Ingram and Matthew Sinclair both 5/1 chances.

Both Brendan McCullum and captain Daniel Vettori are 6/1, but though Vettori is a fine batsman for a lower-order man, the fact that he is so short a price does not show too much faith in the top order.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting is the 3/1 favourite to top-score for his side in their first innings, with Simon Katich just behind at 7/2. Watson is a 4/1 chance (Hughes is 9/2 if he plays) while Michael Clarke is 9/2 and Michael Hussey is a 5/1 bet.

I just can't see anything other than an Australia win, completing the 2-0 whitewash, though if you're going to take the 4/9, so keep an eye on the weather, which can always be a problem in New Zealand.

Original preview
New Zealand and Australia go from one-dayers to a two-Test series this Friday when they square off in the first match in Wellington and as always, the Aussies go in as strong favourites to come out on top.

Not since the 1989/90 series - which consisted of just one match - have the New Zealanders come out on top, and that was when they had the brilliant Richard Hadlee and when John Bracewell weaved some magic.

Strangely, given their proximity, the two sides have actually played only nine series in New Zealand, with the last one back in 2005, when Australia won a three-Test series 2-1.

Australia's biggest problem this time round could be Michael Clarke, who has been the subject of a very public break-up from his fiancee. The Aussies will hope he can get his head in the right place for the two Tests for he has been an important figure for them over the past 12 months, scoring almost 1000 runs at an average of well over 56.

He is also the vice-captain, of course, and so his importance to the team is even more important, aside from his batting prowess. Bet365 don't seem to think it will matter, though, for they make Australia 1/3 to win the series, with New Zealand 7/1 and the drawn series on offer at 15/4.

Given the relative strength of the two sides, Australia look pretty solid bets at 1/3. The Aussies are also 6/5 to win both matches, while it's 11/5 that they win 1-0. It's 5/1 on a 1-1 draw, 11/1 on a 0-0 draw and if you think the New Zealanders can win, then you can get 10/1 that they do so 1-0 and 33/1 that they win both.

Australia's record away from home is not quite as brilliant as it is at home, in recent years - they have lost the past two Ashes series in England for example and in fact this will be their first away Test since their 2009 loss - but they are still a formidable proposition to most sides and I just don't see New Zealand having the collective power to stop them.

Can Clarke get his head right?
Ricky Ponting is the obvious and rightful favourite to top-score for Australia in the series. Bet365 make the skipper 11/4 to come out on top, while Shane Watson and Simon Katich are each 10/3.

The big question for Australia, though, is whether Michael Clarke can get his head straight quickly enough to be a positive factor in the series. He is a key player for them but bet365 are hedging their bets a little, making him just 5/1 to be top scorer.

Michael Hussey is just behind Clarke at 11/2, with the recalled Phil Hughes 15/2, Marcus North, whose place is under threat, 12/1 and Brad Haddin 16/1.

For New Zealand, the class is all with Ross Taylor, who has been made 3/1 favourite. Taylor looks like the man New Zealand's batting will have to build itself around over the next few years.

Martin Guptill is a 4/1 chance, while Matt Sinclair, Tim McIntosh, Peter Ingram and BJ Watling are all 11/2. Daniel Vettori, who is a far better batsman than anyone ever gives him credit for, is 6/1, while Brendan McCullum, who blows hot and cold, is 7/1.

All in all, New Zealand will probably push Australia pretty hard but the tourists have the extra options and that bit more class and should be able to wiin both games.

Cambers' Call
Australia to win Test series v New Zealand 2-0 - 6/5 bet365

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.