Sri Lanka eye revenge over Australia

Despite a rotation system that seems to be confusing the players as much as the spectators, Australia eked out a comfortable if unconvincing victory over Sri Lanka on Thursday and are 2/11 (1.22) favourites to repeat the feat when the two sides meet again in the VB Series on Sunday.

Sri Lanka, who have shown plenty of encouraging signs throughout the series, are 3/1 (4.00) to upset the odds, something they have already done with a victory over both Australia and South Africa, the third member of the series.

Surprisingly, Australia do not have a particularly good record in one-day matches in Perth, winning 15 and losing 13 of the 28 matches. On the other hand, they have won all six of the matches against Sri Lanka there.

A testament to the quality of the pitch, there doesn't seem to be any advantage in batting first in Perth, with an almost even split between the winning sides batting first and second there.

Gilchrist favourite
With Ricky Ponting again taking a rest, Adam Gilchrist skippers the side and the left-hander is favourite at 4/1 (5.00) to top score for his side. Simon Katich, who holds his place despite competition from Phil Jaques, is 9/2 (5.50) while Damien Martyn, who looked in good touch at Adelaide in Thursday's match, is 5/1 (6.00).

Andrew Symonds and Brad Hodge are both 11/2 (6.50). Brad Hussey is 6/1 (7.00) and Michael Clarke 13/2 (7.50). Though Gilchrist averages over 60 in Tests at the WACA, in one-dayers it's just 34. In comparison, Martyn averages 45 there, while Symonds averages 48 from just two games there.

Sri Lanka missed Sanath Jayasuriya against Australia on Thursday but the former skipper shares favouritism to be his side's topscorer, at 7/2 (4.50), with Kumar Sangakkara. Both men have been in good form and though Sangakkara has had more match practice over the past few months, Jayasuriya is capable of great things when the mood takes him.

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene are both 9/2 (5.50) while Tillekeratne Dilshan and Jehan Mubarak are 11/2 (6.50), with Upul Tharanga 6/1 (7.00). And though none of the Sri Lanka team have particularly good records on the ground, the pace of the pitch is conducive to quick scoring.

Lee raring to go
That said, Brett Lee will probably be licking his lips at returning to the WACA, a ground where he has had plenty of success in the past. It's not hard to see Lee tearing through the Sri Lanka top order and Lee may well get plenty of support at 10/1 (11.00) to be Man of the Match, a market headed by Symonds, at 15/2 (8.50).

One of the areas where Australia have been vulnerable in this series is at the top of their own batting line-up and Sri Lanka may be overpriced at 5/4 (2.25) to have a bigger opening partnership than their counterparts, who are 4/7 (1.57).

Considering that they have come out on top in that market in two of the three meetings between the two this series, that's not bad.