Cricket

While England and India fight over the ODI Series, Sri Lanka and Australia are the two biggest test nations playing catch up and the visitors are worth backing to take their second successive test and land a series for the first time since their tour of New Zealand in March 2010.

The first test was dominated by the pitch produced in Kandy to suit Sri Lankan spinners which backfired to the point that the pitch was officially rated "poor" by the ICC match referee Chris Broad and only gave Australia's debutant offspinner Nathan Lyon licence to go through the Sri Lankans in the first innings.

Australia’s record over Sri Lanka now stands at 14-1 in favour of the visitors with matches won (6 draws) and while things should be closer here Michael Clarke’s bullishness about his side’s capability to bat either first or second should not go unnoticed.

The conditions in Galle makes Australia’s first innings effort of 273 all the more creditable especially when you see how badly the Sri Lankans faltered, and the newly built Pallekele stadium should be easier for batting on – Plenty of runs were scored at the World Cup there and in the rained off test between Sri Lanka and the West Indies the visitors made 303.

It’s easy to anticipate Sri Lanka’s batting line improving – They went from 105 to 253 in the next Innings and an improved performance from Captain Tillakaratne Dislhan should also added to that – But the Aussies look value to gain a first innings lead here.

Their batting was a feature of the One Day Series win and they’ve made more in an innings than their hosts on 5 occasions out of 7 on this tour while Sri Lanka were outscored 4 times in two tests against England so the evens available about a first innings lead should be taken.

Advice

1 pt Australia (2/1 general)

2 pts Australia 1^st Innings Lead (evs Totesport) 

You know September’s coming when rain arrives and it ruined a very good looking encounter between England and India with the hosts having looked shaky in their 7.2 over spell, on the ropes at 27 for 2, chasing 275, many will be watching a youthful side with close eyes today.

The main problem today is likely to be rain again however – 7.8mm is set for today, namely in the afternoon – And that doesn’t make the result for either teams appealing, although in – play could offer some belting options.

While India are becoming big at match odds, I still don’t have an awful lot of confidence with them and would rather back them in – play or once they’ve won a match – Their injuries are worrying and the lack of control they had when Tim Bresnan and the ever-improving Jade Dernbach found line and length suggests they’re not impenetrable.

Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell should enjoy a flatter batting wicket, which will help, and the former has never scored below 43 in 3 appearances here – While the return of Grame Swann’s sure to help if he can get turn to match the inevitable bounce.

As far as today’s action is concerned, Praveen Kumar might hold the key to the match. A spell with delivered 20 dot-balls and two key wickets had many doubting England’s batsmen and with plenty of cloud cover he seems set to do the same again here, and is a good price at 11/4 to be the top Indian wicket taker today.

If he can remove Craig Kieswetter early on then that might allow Virat Kohil, who has already got 5 ODI Centuries and got 55 in the First ODI, to outscore him. He seems fine with English conditions, having scored 71 and 78 in the two warm up matches, and while today he should be tested more by England’s bowling – Too many short balls were offered at Old Trafford – There’s a feeling that he may be able to negate the increased threat and get a total into the mid 40’s.

Advice

2 pts Virat Kohli to Outscore Craig Kieswetter (10/11 Blue Sq)

1 pt Praveen Kumar top India wicket – taker (11/4 general)