Outsiders Pakistan face baptism of fire at the WACA
Australia are 1/3 favourites to beat Pakistan in the first Test, which begins at the WACA Ground in Perth on Thursday
Andrew Hall
14-Dec-2004
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Australia are 1/3 favourites to beat Pakistan in the first Test, which begins at the WACA Ground in Perth on Thursday. Pakistan, who have struggled in their warm-up matches, are 7/1 outsiders. The draw is 10/3.
Pakistan's last visit to Australia
1999-2000 series page
Pakistan last toured Australia in 1999-2000, when they lost all the Tests to go down 3-0. On that tour, a demoralised Pakistan lost the third Test at the WACA by an innings and 20 runs. Replying to Pakistan's meagre first innings of 155, Australia made an immense 451 all out, with Justin Langer (144) and Ricky Ponting (197) leading the runscoring spree. A fighting 276 in the second innings was not enough for Pakistan to avoid an innings defeat.
Last 10 matches at the WACA - results list
1999-2000 series page
Pakistan last toured Australia in 1999-2000, when they lost all the Tests to go down 3-0. On that tour, a demoralised Pakistan lost the third Test at the WACA by an innings and 20 runs. Replying to Pakistan's meagre first innings of 155, Australia made an immense 451 all out, with Justin Langer (144) and Ricky Ponting (197) leading the runscoring spree. A fighting 276 in the second innings was not enough for Pakistan to avoid an innings defeat.
Nine of the last 10 matches at the WACA have resulted in an Australian victory, often by quite a margin. The only exception to this rule was the draw with New Zealand in 2001-02, when four of the Kiwis scored centuries in their first innings.
Scorecard
Top Team Batsman
The experienced pair of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana are 3/1 joint-favourites to lead Pakistan's first-innings runscoring. Salman Butt, the hero of the Jubilee one-day match against India, has shown reasonable form so far on this tour, and offers decent value at 9/2.
The experienced pair of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana are 3/1 joint-favourites to lead Pakistan's first-innings runscoring. Salman Butt, the hero of the Jubilee one-day match against India, has shown reasonable form so far on this tour, and offers decent value at 9/2.
For Australia, Ricky Ponting is 7/2 favourite to top-score in their first innings, followed by the openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden at 4/1. Michael Clarke (13/2) and Adam Gilchrist (15/2) offer good value bets in this market.
Also betting on
Man of the Match - Warne and Hayden 8/1 joint-favourite
Batsman Matches
Highest first-innings opening partnership - Australia 4/11, Pakistan 2/1
First-innings lead - Australia 1/5, Pakistan 10/3
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.