Kiwis looking to upset rampant Australia

Fresh from a 5-0 home whitewash in the recent one-day series, New Zealand go into the first Test at Christchurch hoping to spring a shock result on the seemingly unstoppable Australians. As you would expect, bet365 place the Kiwis as 12/1 outsiders to win the match and the stats seem to support this view - of the 38 Tests played on this ground, New Zealand have won only seven and few will have been against as good a side as Ricky Ponting's men.

For the home team, no batsman has a better record against their dominant neighbours than Nathan Astle. He averages well over 38 against Australia compared to a Test average of 37.55 and would appear to offer real value to be the top scorer in a largely inexperienced and under-pressure New Zealand top order. bet365 are currently offering 4/1 on Astle to be his side's leading batsman.

Contrastingly, the Australian top order is full of confidence and for them, scoring Test hundreds seems to be an expectation rather than an achievement. One man returning to the line-up after the ODIs is Justin Langer: he is in top form after an exceptional series against Shoaib Akhtar and his Pakistani teammates, when he scored 390 runs at 65, and he will look to be back in the runs again against the rather less menacing New Zealand attack. Langer is available at 4/1 to be Australian top scorer and 9/1 to be Man of the Match.

However, in scoring 91 at well over a run a ball in the last ODI, Adam Gilchrist reminded everyone - as if we could have forgotten - how dangerous he is. Time after time, when Australia have found themselves in a tricky position, Gilchrist has come to the crease and turned a match on its head with his dynamic strokeplay and few would bet against him scoring heavily this series too. Having returned to form so dramatically last weekend at Napier, odds of 15/2 on Gilchrist top scoring for Australia look generous.

bet365 odds
Nathan Astle: Top Team Batsman 4/1 | Man of the Match 12/1
Justin Langer: Top Team Batsman 4/1 | Man of the Match 9/1
Adam Gilchrist: Top Team Batsman 15/2 | Man of the Match 10/1