Australia vs Pakistan First Test Preview

<p>It’s time to crack a cold one, liberally apply some zinc to your lips and get ready to settle in for the Aussie summer of cricket.</p> <p>The sun is shining and the AFL and NRL gear has long been packed away, Test cricket is here.</p> <p>After conquering the world in ODI, Australia will now look to assert their dominance in the five-day format.</p> <p>Their first assignment is welcoming Pakistan Down Under with a Test out West. Australia are being heavily tipped to win and win well against a Pakistan side who have had little to no luck on our shores.</p> <p>Will this be the case, or will Pakistan spring an upset for the ages and surprise everyone? Check out our Australia vs Pakistan cricket betting tips for the first Test of the summer to find out.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Australia vs Pakistan Squads</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Aussies are at full strength for this series, with everyone fit and available for selection.</p> <p>The biggest news here is Travis Head’s promotion to vice-captain after his ODI World Cup heroics in India.</p> <p><strong>Australian squad:</strong> <em>Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head (vc), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner.</em></p> <p>While there has been a promotion for the Aussies, the opposite is true for Pakistan. Star batsman Babar Azam has turned in the armband after his nation's disappointing showing at the World Cup, with Shan Masood installed as the new captain.</p> <p><strong>Pakistan squad:</strong> <em>Shan Masood (c), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Nauman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Australia vs Pakistan Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As always, there are a number of eclectic markets available for this match, all of which can be found on the Sportsbet app and website.</p> <p>We’ve decided to focus on three of the biggest here: head-to-head (H2H), most runs and most wickets.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Australia vs Pakistan H2H Betting Tip</h3> <p>You have to go all the way back to 1995 for the last time Pakistan beat Australia on their own patch.</p> <p>Yes, the Aussies boast quite the record against their visitors. Add to this the fact that this match will be taking place at Perth Stadium and not the WACA.</p> <p>Australia are undefeated there, with a perfect three from three record, while Pakistan are yet to play a test in the 60,000 capacity stadium.</p> <p>All signs appear to be pointing to a heavy Australian victory.</p> <p><strong>H2H tip:</strong> Australia to win @ 1.25.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Australia vs Pakistan Top Runs Scorer Betting Tip</h3> <p>There are a couple of interesting candidates to choose from in this market. First of all, there is the man of the moment (for better or for worse) David Warner.</p> <p>This series is tipped to be Warner's last in the baggy green and he’ll want to go out with a bang, starting in Perth.</p> <p>Warner also has a sensational record against this particular opponent, who can forget his epic 335 run display against Pakistan back in 2019.</p> <p>Our pick here, however, is more value orientated. We simply cannot go past World Cup hero Travis head who is currently (at the time of writing) paying 7.00 compared to Warner’s 5.00.</p> <p>He needs 96 to crack the 3,000-run mark in international test cricket and has notched at least 50 in three of his five test innings at Perth Stadium. Travis is the man for us in this market.</p> <p><strong>Most runs tip:</strong> Travis Head @ 7.00</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Australia vs Pakistan Top Wicket Taker Betting Tip</h3> <p>Just like its little brother across the Swan River (the WACA) Perth Stadium’s wicket favours the fast and in Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Australia have two of the more rapid bowlers around.</p> <p>This market is a straight shootout between these two as far as we’re concerned, and you can’t really go wrong siding with either one.</p> <p>For us, we’re chucking our support behind Starc, purely for that extra bit of value he offers ahead of Cummins.</p> <p><strong>Most wickets tip: </strong>Mitchell Starc @ 4.00</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Australia vs Pakistan First Test Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Location: </strong>Perth Stadium, Perth.</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>December 14 – December 18, 2023.</p> <p><strong>Start time:</strong> 1:20pm AEDT.</p> <p><strong>Match officials:</strong> Richard Illingworth and Joel Wilson (standing), Michael Gough (third), Javagal Srinath (match referee).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Australia vs Pakistan Odds</h2>

<p>Fancy a flutter on Australia vs Pakistan or another cricket match this summer? Check out our How to Bet on Cricket guide <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-cricket">here</a>.</p>