Pietersen ready for return to form
ANDREW STRAUSS and Ricky Ponting have had barely enough time for the amazing turnaround of the drawn first Test to sink in before the second Test starts in Adelaide tonight.
The Adelaide Oval has a reputation as a batsman’s pitch but we should also expect a conclusion. Formerly famous for yielding draws, there have only been three here since 1991.
Laying the draw on Betdaq therefore seems a good option, but it could be better to wait until after the first day’s play, assuming plenty of runs have been scored, to do so.
Kevin Pietersen has looked down in the dumps for a prolonged period, but with an opening score of 43 last week he appeared much happier.
He is due a sizeable score and the Adelaide Oval could be just the venue to hand it to him. Pietersen is 9/2 to be top England scorer but, as we could see a number of high totals on the first few days, there’s better value in Blue Square’s 4/1 for KP to score a first innings century.
Sporting Index have updated their series player spread markets after the Brisbane Test and, unsurprisingly after his 195, Mike Hussey’s runs quote has shot up to 480-500.
I am convinced that ‘Mr Cricket’s’ first innings knock was a freak score though, he somehow managed to survive a new ball spell from Jimmy Anderson, and therefore advise selling at 480.
In his final Ashes warm-up for Western Australia he was dismissed for a golden duck and three, while he also scored ducks in the 2009 Ashes at Edgbaston and the Oval.
POINTERS…
Lay draw after first day on Betdaq
Kevin Pietersen to score first innings century at 4/1 with Blue Square
Sell Mike Hussey’s series runs at 480 with Sporting Index