Usual suspects head series betting

Only two Tests in the series between Pakistan so no time for players to work their way into the contest if they want to come out on top in the series markets.

I can't remember the last time that Ricky Ponting was not at the top of the betting to be top Australia batsman in a Test series. The skipper has been fabulously consistent and even if he may not be quite the player he was - it's an area to debated at a later date - he is still well capable of seeing off the new boys.

Bet365 make him joint-favourite this time, to top-score in the two matches against Pakistan, beginning at Lord's on Tuesday where has often shone in the past. Ponting and Simon Katich, who will open as usual, are each 3/1, with the other opener, Shane Watson a 10/3 chance and the ever-talented Michael Clarke 9/2.

Behind them. Michael Hussey, who has played himself back into form in the past year after a blip following a sensational start to his career, is 11/2, and then the lack of depth in the Australia batting, relatively, is shown by the gap to the next man, Marcus North, who is 11/1 to top-score, batting at No 6.

It stands to reason that if Pakistan are to compete in the series, then they will need to bat well and that puts a lot of pressure on the more experienced men in the side. Salman Butt is the man to shoulder a lot of the burden and is the 10/3 favourite with bet365.

Umar Akmal is 4/1, Imran Farhat is a 9/2 chance and Shoaib Malik is on offer at 5/1. Behind them, the likes of Hameed and Shahid Afridi, the captain, are both 6/1, with the dangerous Kamran Akmal 7/1.

Pakistan's biggest strength, though, is in the quality and the variety of their bowling attack and bet365 make Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif joint favourites to take the most wickets for their side at 3/1. Spinner Danish Kaneria is a 10/3 chance and Umar Gul, who is trying to show he can be as effective in Tests as he is in the one-day game, is 7/2.

For Australia, Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson are joint favourites at 5/2, with Ben Hilfenhaus 11/4 and Nathan Hauritz 5/1.

Of all these markets, I fancy Ponting to come out on top in the Australia batting and perhaps Mohammad Asif to edge it in the Pakistan bowlers, but in a two-Test series, there is almost no margin for error so a fast start is absolutely imperative.