Who will shine in Australia?

If Sri Lanka are to have any success in their two-Test tour of Australia, then the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga will have to hit top form. Australia have plenty of match-winners in their side, too, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in their respective markets.

Muralitharan's troubles in previous trips to Australia have been well documented and it will be fascinating if he can produce his best under what is sure to be huge pressure, exerted by both the Australian players and the home press, who recognise the twirler as a real threat to their side's dominance.

Murali averages more than five wickets per match, even away from home, and will be keen to add to his 700 Test wickets. And he also averages five per match in all Tests against the Aussies, so it's not as if his skills are that much more diminished.

Bet365 make him the 2/5 (1.40) favourite to be his side's leading wicket-taker, but you have to remember that the pitch in Brisbane is not usually that receptive to spin, while the Bellerive Oval in Hobart is a small ground so he may be attacked.

With that, and his short price in mind, I wouldn't be surprised if Malinga is the better value at 4/1. In his two Tests against the Aussies, both in Australia, Malinga took 10 wickets, so he has some good memories. His pace will trouble all the batsmen and if he stays fit he could be a surprise winner of that market.

Brett Lee is the spearhead of the Australia attack now and he is 2/1 favourite to be his side's leading wicket-taker, but his average wickets per game is around four, compared to Stuart Clark's record which is about five per match. Clark does not have the pace of Lee, but he is as accurate as anyone and at 9/4 he could be good value.

Stuart MacGill is 4/1 and is always dangerous as he takes a lot of wickets when he is on song. The problem here is whether he will get to bowl that much - that will depend on the success of the seamers. And don't forget Mitchell Johnson, who is proving to be a good performer, and is 9/2.

Top batsmen
Australia captain Ricky Ponting is favourite at 2/1 to be his side's leading scorer in the series and that is no surprise. Ponting averages almost 65 at home and though he has not done that well against the Sri Lankans in the past, he will want to lead the way after the retirements of Justin Langer, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, so expect him to have a good series.

Opener Matthew Hayden is next at 11/4. The left-hander averages 62 at home and 57 against Sri Lanka in all Tests so he has to be respected. Michael Hussey is 9/2, new-boy Phil Jaques, who gets his chance as opener in place of Langer, is 11/2, and Michael Clarke is a 7/1 chance.

For Sri Lanka, it's all about experience with Kumar Sangakkara topping the bill at 11/4. The left-hander, though, averages just 25 against Australia, so will need to step it up. Mahela Jayawardene is 3/1, while the old warhorses Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atappatu are 4/1 and 9/2 respectively.