South Africa and Australia Face Each Other in a Classic Cricket Battle

South Africa started against Australia in the first test cricket match at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, SA.

Cricket is a centuries’ old bat-and-ball game, which was first played in England in the 16th century. Currently, this game is most popular in India, South Africa, Australia and England.

As two of the biggest cricket fans’ countries are currently playing, these three test matches between SA and Australia, which started on February 12th, are the reason for huge excitement and significant internet betting in SA.

Short summary of SA’s performance prior the current matches

South Africa and Australia’s cricket teams go against each other in a grand three test cricket matches

• South Africa and Australia are two of the countries, which worship the cricket game the most
• South Africa conquered Pakistan and completed a 3-0 series victory last year
• Australia crushed the England’s team 5-0 at the 2013 Ashes Test series

The last time South Africa played a test match on the SuperSport Park ground was almost a year ago, when it conquered Pakistan and completed a 3-0 series victory in the three-match series.

The Proteas also came into Wednesday's epic game at home featuring a 1-0 victory in the two-match test series against India, which was played last year. The first game against India was a draw but the team led by Abraham Benjamin de Villiers performed outstandingly and made sure it wins the second test.

South Africa posted a total of 500 in the first innings and the visiting team had a total of 334 runs. The SA bowlers Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn each took three wickets in addition to Robin Peterson, who took four wickets.

This game development sent the captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team with just 223 runs in the second innings and left the team a target of just 59 runs to win the game on the final day of the match.

The SA’s team also experienced huge disappointment as Jacques Kallis announced his retirement from the long form of the game and missed the battle. Still, whoever bet on SA, won a deserved price guaranteed by bookies that follow strictly the SA gambling laws.

Australia’s preceding victories

The Australian team seems to be highly optimistic about the test matches against South Africa as it crushed England with 5-0 in the Ashes Test series and brought significant winnings to all bettors, who supported it via the online sportsbooks in Australia.

Mitchell Johnson was the star for the squad led by captain Michael Clarke in the Ashes with a haul of 37 wickets in five matches. With this fantastic game he earned the Player of the Series award, in addition to the three Man of the Match credits in the first, second and fourth test.

Australia also achieved victories in the One Day International and the Twenty20 International series that followed the Ashes success. The home team won the five-match ODI series 4-1 and sealed a 3-0 victory in the three-match T20I series, which came after.

Current odds for the test series

Both SA and Australia are expecting to transfer their winning impetus and cricket fans surely are enjoying the amazing three matches’ battle between two of the best cricket teams at the moment.

The current odds are:

Match to finish as a draw – Industry best 7/2

Top Batsman

• AB De Villiers – Industry best 7/2
• Alex Doolan – Industry best 6/1

Top Bowler

• Morne Morkel – Industry best 7/2
• Nathan Lyon – Industry best 11/2

Predicted started teams:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (c), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Morne Morkel

Australia: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Alex Doolan, Michael Clarke (c), Steven Smith, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon