They’re unlikely to share a regular coffee and are surely not on each other’s Christmas card list. Now, online bookmaker sportsbet is giving Michael Clarke and Shane Watson a chance to get one up on the other, opening a market on who’ll score the most runs this Ashes series.
Despite leading Clarke by 36 runs after the 1st test, Watson is the $2.10 outsider, with Clarke the $1.72 favourite.
In match betting, England are the $1.85 favourites, the Aussies are at $3.90 and have attracted 60 percent of money staked on the game. The draw is paying $3.70.
Sportsbet.com.au is also offering a host of specials on the 2nd Test, including whether or not the Aussies first DRS review in the match will be successful ($2.50), will any batsman score a duck in the first innings ($1.91), will Ashton Agar score a century in the match ($21) and whether James Anderson will take ten-wickets in the match ($15).
“We’d love to hear what their mid pitch conversations would be. Perhaps Watto will be giving Pup guitar hero lessons while Clarkey offers batting tips to Shane?” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.
Clarke is the $3.40 favourite to top score for Australia in the first innings, ahead of Watson ($4.50) and Chris Rogers ($5.00), with first test hero Agar at $34 to repeat his historical achievement.
If sportsbet.com.au punters back the winning top runscorer in the 1st innings and if they score a century, we’ll double their winnings up to $100. Sportsbet.com.au will also refund punters their bet on the match if it ends in a draw.
Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
2nd Ashes Test
$1.85 England
$3.70 Draw
$3.90 Australia
Michael Clarke v Shane Watson – most runs in Ashes series
$1.72 Michael Clarke
$2.10 Shane Watson
Highest opening partnership
$1.71 England
$2.14 Australia
First innings lead
$1.60 England
$2.28 Australia
Australia’s 1st innings top scorer
$3.40 Michael Clarke
$4.50 Shane Watson
$5.00 Chris Rogers
$6.00 David Warner
$6.50 Usman Khawaja
$7.00 Phillip Hughes, Ed Cowan
$9.00 Steve Smith
$11 Brad Haddin
$34 Ashton Agar
Others quoted
2nd Ashes Test special
$1.25 Any player to take a 5-for
$1.83 Coin toss result = Tail
$1.83 Coin toss result = Heads
$1.91 Any English batsman to get out for a duck (1st innings)
$1.91 Any Australian batsman to get out for a duck (1st innings)
$2.50 Will Australia’s first DRS review be successful?
$2.75 Kevin Pietersen to hit a 6 in 1st innings
$15 James Anderson to take 10 wickets
$21 Ashton Agar to score a century
$126 Match to be a tie
