The Gabba in Brisbane is the venue for the 1st Test Match between Australia and South Africa on Saturday and we take a look at the game from a betting angle.
This will be the first of three Test Matches with the 2nd Test taking place in Melbourne on Boxing Day and the 3rd and final Test in Sydney on the 4th of January.
SQUADS
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cam Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Marnus Labuschagne, Lance Morris, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
Australia welcomes skipper, Pat Cummins back to the squad after he missed the recent series against the West Indies through injury. Josh Hazlewood is also set to miss the 1st Test, but other than that they have a full strength look to them.
South Africa: Dean Elgar (C), Temba Bavuma, Gerald Coetzee, Theunis de Bruyn, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Khaya Zondo
The Proteas will be captained by Dean Elgar and Malibongwe Maketa will be standing in as the interim coach.
2022 FORM
AUSTRALIA
As far as recent Test form goes, Australia have just been in action against the West Indies playing a two match series at home. They comfortably won the 1st Test by 164 runs and trotted up even easier in the 2nd Test winning by a massive 419 runs.
They are unbeaten in 2022 as far as Test series go, having drawn 1-1 in Sri Lanka and beaten Pakistan 1-0 earlier in the year.
SOUTH AFRICA
The Proteas last action was back in England in September and having started as underdogs they surprised many when they won the 1st Test by an innings and 12 runs. Unfortunately they failed to keep that momentum going and lost the 2nd Test by an innings and 85 runs before getting badly beaten in the decider where England won by 9 wickets to take the series.
Prior to that they had beaten Bangladesh 2-0 in a series at home and they came back from a heavy defeat in the 1st Test against New Zealand away from home in February to level the two match series.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
These sides haven’t met since South Africa hosted in early 2019 where it was the hosts who emerged 3-1 victors and the last time the Proteas toured Australia they came out 2-1 series winners back in 2016.
THE VENUE
Australia have an excellent record at the Gabba and have won 8 of their last 9 Test matches with their only defeat coming against India in January of last year. Their most recent win at the Gabba was a comfortable 9 wicket win over England.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Australia 4/10
Draw 5/1
South Africa 15/4
Suggested Bet: South Africa Win at 15/4
Although Australia have been in strong recent form, South Africa have shown they can win on the road despite being rusty and looking at that South African bowling attack, I think they have fire power to put this Australian line-up under pressure.
Suggested Bet: Top South African Bowler, Nortje at 12/5
Nortje is a man who gives himself plenty of wicket taking chances and I am expecting him to be right up the Australian throats and hopefully he will get the reward in the 1st innings.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
