Wounded Australia sure to be dangerous

It's hard to know whether to envy New Zealand or pity them. Over the last 15 years, there has rarely been a good time to play Australia and with the world's leading side smarting from their drubbing in India, they will be like wounded animals when they take on the Black Caps in a two-Test series, starting in Brisbane on Thursday.

It would seem highly unlikely that Australia won't win this series and bet365 make them 2/11 to win it, while New Zealand are an enormous 18/1 and the draw is 4/1.

Now 18/1 may seem big but New Zealand have nowhere near the depth of Australia and just as importantly, they have only ever won one series in Australia - when the hosts were at an all-time low, in 1985, so there is no real reason they should win another one now.

Quite frankly, I'd be amazed if it's anything other than 2-0 to the home side, which looks decent value at 10/11. The Aussies have won 50 percent of their home Tests with New Zealand, losing just two in 24, and with the tourists' batting looking lightweight, Australia's relative lack of strength in the bowling department should not matter.

Australia may have one eye on getting ready for the forthcoming home and away series against South Africa, but they are still hugely professional and they will be going flat out to show that defeat in India was a blip and not a taste of things to come.

New Zealand have some good players. Daniel Vettori is an excellent all-rounder and a good captain, while Jesse Ryder is a fine batsman, but their overall batting is weak, with the top of the order especially vulnerable.

Series stars
After the torrid time they had in India (though in fairness it was the bowling that let them down), Australia's batsmen will be relishing the prospect of facing New Zealand's good, if a lot more predictable, seam attack.

Captain Ricky Ponting and opener Matt Hayden are favourites at 11/4 and Hayden especially will be keen to make amends having failed to shine in India. The left-hander is a bully of seam bowling when he gets going, so he will be one to watch.

Michael Hussey, one of those who did bat well in India, is 7/2, while Simon Katich is 5/1, while Michael Clarke is 6/1 and Andrew Symonds, who returns to the XI after disciplinary problems, is 13/2.

For New Zealand, Ross Taylor, Brendan McCullum and Jamie How are all joint favourites at 4/1, while Ryder, arguably the best of the lot, is 9/2. Aaron Redmond is 11/2 and Vettori is also not out of it at 13/2. The chances are that he will top-score in one of the innings at least, so he could be popular in the betting.

Bowling markets
Brett Lee is favourite to finish with the most wickets for the Australians, at 9/4, but I wouldn't be surprised if Stuart Clark, providing he is recalled for the first match, doesn't end up on top. Rain in Brisbane makes it likely that the first Test will help the seamers, so Clark's nagging line and length could be awfully tough for the New Zealanders. At 3/1 he is good value.

Vettori is the obvious favourite to come out on top for New Zealand, at 13/10, while Chris Martin is 7/2 and Kyle Mills a 5/1 chance. And don't rule out Tim Southee, a real prospect, at 11/2.

As I said, though, in the end, barring washouts and acts of God, I'd be shocked if Australia don't win the series 2-0 and absolutely stunned if they don't win the series alone.