Australia and India will square off in the first of three tests from today and we’re set for a thrilling contest at the Adelaide Oval. Australia’s struggles on and off the pitch have been well documented, but they are a side that has typically kept their best cricket for home summers series’. India have never won a test series on Australia soil, but will need to bring their best if they any chance of breaking that hoodoo this year. Given that Adelaide offers spinners arguably their best chance to strike in Australia, I’m happy to back Ravi Ashwin to take the most wickets for India in the first innings.
San Jose are one of the toughest road trips in the league and I’m confident that they will make light work of the Carolina Hurricanes this afternoon. The Sharks are third in the Pacific Division and with plenty of scope to leapfrog the Anaheim Ducks. They returned to winning form with an impressive 3-1 win over the Canadiens on the road on Monday, while the Hurricanes failed to account for the inconsistent Kings.
Round 8 of the NBL is underway in Sydney tonight and I am confident that the away side, the table-topping Perth Wildcats will continue their outstanding run of form with another win. The Wildcats have still suffered only one defeat all season and enter Round 8 with an outstanding 10-1 record. A win in New Zealand at the beginning of Round 7 was franked when they returned home and turned around a 15-point third-quarter deficit the again beat the Breakers by five points. They should have taken plenty of benefit from the week off and they have been a class above Sydney so-far this season.