Bollinger and Harris in a battle to oust Johnson for second Test spot

Mitchell Johnson has been made the first Test scapegoat by the Australian media and it seems the fast bowler is set to miss out on a trip to Adelaide as Doug Bollinger shortens in the betting market.

Bollinger is now 5/1 to be the leading wicket-taker in the second Test, ahead of Johnson who is 6/1, the same price as his other potential replacement, Ryan Harris.

If the betting market and rumours are to be believed, Harris and Bollinger are vying for the vacant spot in the Australian bowling attack but Bollinger’s international experience means he is the favourite to start.

Bollinger’s preference to bowl with the new ball could mean that he and six-wicket first Test hero Peter Siddle, 5/1 to be top second Test wicket-taker, are given the task of taking the wickets of the England top order that managed 613 runs between them in Brisbane.

With the Adelaide Oval ground staff preparing to make the pitch as positive as possible, the bowling attack of both sides will be keen to improve on their first Test performances.

Traditionally spinners have fared well at the Adelaide Oval, taking 33 of the 104 wickets in the last three Ashes Tests, and Australia’s Xavier Doherty is a huge price at 10/1 to be the leading wicket-taker in the second Test.

But the indecisiveness from the Australian selectors proves that the English attack is in a superior place at the moment, and punters should look to the England bowlers in the top second Test wicket-taker market.

Steven Finn may have taken six wickets in the first Test, but the seamer is as big as 8/1 to be the top wicket-taker in the second Test, and an out-of-sorts Graeme Swann is the 4/1 favourite.

A £10 stake on Doherty being top second Test wicket-taker would return £110. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.