Punters back Aussies for clean sweep after miracle MCG win

THE betting community has got around Australia after an outstanding fifth-day performance at the MCG sealed a series win over Pakistan.

Steve Smith and company will now look to rubber stamp their revival with victory in the New Year’s Test at Sydney, which starts January 3.

Punters have jumped all over the Aussies, although some online bookmakers have taken a more partisan slice of the betting than others.

While Sportsbet has Australia at $1.53 to win the third Test, Bet365 is quoting a mere $1.36 for the hosts to make it a whitewash.

The big winners in Melbourne were all the folks who got behind Smith for man of the match.

It was a tight call, with Azhar Ali making a superb 205 not out for Pakistan and Mitchell Starc putting on a stunning all-round show on the final day.

But 165 not out and a daring tactical display was enough to get the Aussie skipper the best-on-ground gong, not to mention a $7.50 payout at Bet365 for anyone who backed him.

Also coming into the third Test on a high is Nathan Lyon, who won back public favour with three crucial wickets in Pakistan’s second innings.

The ‘GOAT’ has firmed into $4.50 at CrownBet to be Australia’s top wicket-taker on a turning track at the SCG.

He will be joined by either Ashton Agar or Steve O’Keefe (both $5), who were called to the squad this week as secondary spin options.

Nic Maddinson is out of the 13-man roster, which leaves room for West Australian allrounder Hilton Cartwright to make his Test debut in the number six slot.

Australia vs. Pakistan SCG Test betting

After their big knocks in Melbourne, Smith and David Warner are the obvious favourites in Australia’s top batsman betting for Sydney.

Both are $3.50 chances in the first innings markets at CrownBet.

Azhar ($3.60) and Younis Khan ($4.50) are Pakistan’s breakaway top scorer picks ahead of four players at $6.

Starc heads the best bowler markets at a very tight $2.75, just ahead of the ever-improving Josh Hazlewood ($3).

Mohammad Amir – so impressive yet so unfortunate in the second Test – is the $3.40 favourite for the tourists, while Yasir Shah has moved into $3.75 on a pitch that should much better suit his leg spin.

The same old suspects lead the man of the match betting, where Smith ($6), Warner ($6.50), Starc ($7.50) and Usman Khawaja ($8) are the only men in single figures.

Australia top batsman

Steve Smith, David Warner – $3.50

Usman Khawaja – $4.50

Matt Renshaw – $5.50

Peter Handscomb – $8

Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade – $17

Ashton Agar – $34

Steve O’Keefe – $41

Mitchell Starc – $67

Nathan Lyon – $126

Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood – $151

Pakistan top batsman

Azhar Ali – $3.60

Younis Khan – $4.50

Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Sharjeel Khan – $6

Sarfraz Ahmed – $9

Mohammad Rizwan – $11

Mohammad Nawaz – $21

Mohammad Amir – $51

Sohail Khan – $67

Wahab Riaz – $101

Imran Khan – $101

Yasir Shah – $126

Australia top bowler

Mitchell Starc – $2.75

Josh Hazlewood – $3

Jackson Bird – $4.50

Nathan Lyon – $5

Steve O’Keefe – $5.50

Ashton Agar – $9

Hilton Cartwright – $17

Pakistan top bowler

Mohammad Amir – $3.40

Yasir Shah – $3.75

Sohail Khan – $4.25

Wahab Riaz – $4

Rahat Ali – $4.50

Imran Khan – $5

Mohammad Nawaz – $8

Azhar Ali – $34

Man of the match

Steve Smith – $6

David Warner – $6.50

Mitchell Starc – $7.50

Usman Khawaja – $8

Josh Hazlewood – $11

Azhar Ali – $12

Mohammad Amir – $14

Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Younis Khan – $15

Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb – $17

Asad Shafiq, Yasir Shah – $19

Others quoted at CrownBet.com.au

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