Cricket Betting: David Warner worth backing as Australia’s top batsman in 1st Test against Pakistan

Recommended bet: Highest Scoring Australian Batsman (1st innings) – David Warner @ 11/4 (3.75) with Unibet

The first Test of a three-match series between Australia and Pakistan takes place at the Gabba in Brisbane, with Pakistan going into the series eyeing a first Test victory in Australia since 1995.  The tourists have yet to win a series in Australia, so history is very much against them.

Both these teams have been world ranked No. 1 this year, but now Australia are down in third spot and Pakistan fourth.  Both could really do with winning this series, with neither coming into it in great form.  Australia have lost away to Sri Lanka and at home to South Africa in their last two series, while Pakistan are coming off a series defeat in New Zealand.

The 12-man Australian squad is unchanged from that which secured a consolation win against South Africa in last month’s 3rd and final Test in Adelaide, with the three debutant batsmen – Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson – all retaining their places, along with Jackson Bird, Matthew Wade and the 12th man in Adelaide, Chadd Sayers.

Almost exactly five years ago Mickey Arthur made his debut as the Australian coach for a Test match against New Zealand at the Gabba that also marked the Test debuts for David Warner and Mitchell Starc.  Fast forward to 2016 and South African Arthur is now the Pakistan coach plotting the downfall of his former charges.

Australia are red hot favourites to win the 1st Test, but there is little value in backing them at around 4/11 (1.36), so it pays to look elsewhere.

As the senior batsman in the Australian team, much will be expected of Warner.  His recent Test match batting has been relatively poor by his standards, but he has a good Test batting average of over 63 at the Gabba and comes into the 1st Test in fine form after back-to-back hundreds in the last two ODIs against New Zealand.  Those latest runs may be in a different form of cricket, but it can’t hurt that Warner is in good nick with the bat.

At 11/4 (3.75), he looks worth a punt to be Australia’s top scoring batsman in the 1st innings.