West Indies v Australia - 2nd ODI

ONE of the problems with West Indies cricket is that the players are so often criticised, they start to believe their own bad publicity. The current Calypso side is never going to compare to the feared West Indian sides of the 1980s - and the West Indian public tell them that at every opportunity. Every cab driver, hotel barman and ground attendant has their own thoughts on what is wrong with West Indian cricket and they aren't afraid to voice their opinions. The players are told they are no good so often that it's not surprising they have some confidence problems. However, there is no doubt that this side is on the way up.

They weren't nearly as bad as the 2-0 Test scoreline against Australia suggested but they did let themselves down badly with a terrible start to the one-day series in St Vincent.
We predicted there would be some wobbles in the Australian one-day side but they weren't on show on the opening one-dayer as the West Indies were their own worst enemies.

Looking to the second match in Grenada, Shiv Chanderpaul will return for the West Indies and it is possible Australian allrounder Andy Symonds could return from a back injury.
However, Australia's lineup is unclear as Ricky Ponting has steered away from his usual policy of naming his team the day before the match, preferring to name his team just before play.

Even though Australia won supremely in St Vincent, we stick to our assertion that this new-look side will experience plenty of growing pains and we won't be touching them around the 1.33 mark.

Mitchell Johnson hasn't fired a shot in the West Indies and the recent one-day form of Ponting and Michael Clarke has been ordinary. New boys Shaun Marsh, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin were sensational in the first one-dayer but the team doesn't look nearly as formidable without Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist at the top of the order.
There's easier ways to make money than Australia at the 'shorts' - but we won't be touching the West Indies either until they show something much better than the other day.
So let's have a look at an exotic bet to make some cash.

Despite his 44 in the one-day series opener, it's been fair to say that Mike Hussey has had a rare run of poor form in the West Indies.
He hasn't been his usual reliable self and we are not convinced he is suited by the Caribbean pitches which resemble sub-continental conditions.
Hussey is primarily a pusher and a nudger in one-day cricket and prefers the ball coming onto him at pace - something he isn't getting in the West Indies.

Rival No.5 Dwayne Bravo has gone up in everyone's estimations this tour and even Ponting hailed him as a world-class allrounder after the Test series.
Bravo has all the skills and his problems are mental rather than skill-based. He always seems to get out at the wrong time. But we are convinced the West Indies' deeply religious allrounder is in some of the batting form of his life.

We think he is way overs at 2.10 to score more runs than Hussey (1.72) in Lasseters market. Bravo also has less class in front of him in the batting order than Hussey does so he is more likely to get an extended stay at the crease. We will make Bravo a 1.5 unit bet - with Mr Cricket taking on his namesake!

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