ODI preview / Ed Hawkins / 04 February 2011 /

As the one-day series comes to an end, with the tourists trailing 5-1, Ed Hawkins discusses the betting options

Team news
With a bit of luck home cricket boards will soon realise the futility of organising marathon one-day series. The Australia-England one-day leg limps to Perth on Sunday morning to be finally put out of its misery.

Australia, of course, will be looking to make it 6-1 but they are treating the match with disdain with a World Cup around the corner. Michael Clarke, the captain, and Shane Watson, Australia's most powerful batsman, will both be rested. Cameron White will lead the side and Western Australian bat Adam Voges plays on his home turf.

Steven Smith, the legspinner, is nursing a hip strain so Jason Krezja is set to make his ODI bow. Tim Paine is likely to open the batting with Brad Haddin.

There are not many Englishmen left in Australia. Paul Collingwood has now flown home to join Tim Bresnan, Graeme Swann, Ajmal Shahzad and Stuart Broad. Apologies if we've missed anyone, it's hard to keep up. Collingwood, who has a back strain, is likely to be replaced by Luke Wright.

Venue and conditions
In the last five years there have been seven ODIs played at the WACA. The first-innings scores read: 343/318/236/288/181/277/212. That is an average of 265, a healthy mark which suggest runs should be in the offing.

In the last 10 years there have been 18 matches with 11 won by the side batting first. This contest is not under lights.

Match odds
With both sides apparently not bothered about this game, it is not surprising if punters feel the same. Still, Australia remain at the [1.88] mark and it is odd that they have not shortened more dramatically.

England are [2.12]. If they can't win after making 333 at Sydney then what more do they have to do? Good point. It looks as though they checked out of this tour some time ago.

Top batsman
Despite the healthy first-innings average at the WACA, there are some poor individual records on the ground. Haddin (133) has scored more runs than any other available Australian in the last five years while the next on the list is White with 77 in three.

Haddin is [4.60] and White [5.40]. Paine might be value as Any Other. He averages 42 in domestic List A matches at the WACA. He is [2.42] for a 50. To put that in context, Voges averages 36.

England's batsmen were blown away at the WACA in the third Test of the Ashes and Australia's bowlers will be licking their lips at the prospect of getting stuck in again.

Only Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell showed any aptitude for the quick and bouncy surface in that game, scoring 50s in their first innings. Strauss is [5.00] for top bat and Bell [5.50]. Sydney centurion Jonathan Trott is [4.70] but the jolly is Any Other at [4.30].

Featured market
Strauss made 63 off 69 balls in the last match and although he is likely to be more weary than any other player, he might be value at [1.70] to outscore the dreadful Matt Prior in a runs match bet. Prior failed against at the SCG with 18.

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