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Australia v Sri Lanka First Test betting and odds

After a plethora of one-day matches, Australia host Sri Lanka in Brisbane on Thursday, November 8 in the first of two Tests Down Under.

Those interested in a bet should note the sides have met over five days just once before at the 'Gabba - a high-scoring draw back in 1989 - and Australia have won six of the eight meetings between the two teams on home soil at short odds.

A bet on a draw would have paid out last time the countries met in Australia but the Aussies had landed the odds in the five previous encounters.

Betting on Ricky Ponting's men at short odds is widely regarded as one of the safest bets in world sport as they are arguably the best side ever to have played the game and they will be strong favourites in the betting to beat the Asians.

Players such as Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden may be coming to the end of their careers but betting customers will feel they are still worth a bet in the top run-scorer market.

Ponting is rated as the best batsman on the planet at present and will be short odds to top the run-scoring charts but the Sri Lankans can boast a formidable attack with Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando backing up Muttiah Muralitharan in the betting for top wicket-taker.

But punters eyeing a bet on Murali should note the trouble that the master spinner has had in Australia in the past, after being called for 'throwing' on several occasions and his odds may reflect that.

The unforgiving fans will doubtless remind him of past events and try to disrupt his attempt to take the nine wickets required to pass Shane Warne's world record of 708 Test victims.

Punters betting on Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene will hope he is at his best but his record against Australia does not make good reading - just 414 Test runs at an average of 29.57.

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