R1500 risk free first punt

Sports betting is growing in popularity in South Africa with a number of new players coming into the market. One of the big challenges we have noted is that many would-be punters are reluctant to make that first step and actually open an account and make their first bet.

The team from Sportingbet have an interesting promotion on the go at the moment. If you open an account with them and make a losing first bet, they will refund you up to R1500 of your first bet. That's not a bad deal, especially if you can land a really good call at your first attempt.

You can punt from as little as R8 a bet and the interface is very user friendly.

You can sign up by clicking HERE or on the banner link below:

The decider

Well after an absolutely fascinating series of test cricket between South Africa and India we come down to third and final test at Newlands to decide us a winner. The Indian team really came back hard in the Kingsmead test and that will have given them a lot of confidence coming into this third test, especially with Singh having demolished our tail in the first innings.

I'm still comfortable with my bet that South Africa will win the series but I expect India to make a real game of it. They're certainly not going to be any kind of pushover.

The match odds are in favour of the home side with Voltbet offering 13/10 and India at 10/3 while Sportingbet have priced it closer at 11/8 for both sides.

Our picks for the best batters in the first innings are as below:

SA
Jacques Kallis - 7/2
Graeme Smith - 15/4

India
VVS Laxman - 6/1

(Batter odds supplied by Sportingbet)

C'mon SA!

WANT TO TAKE A PUNT ON THE THIRD TEST? Open a sports betting account by clicking HERE

Nickname trivia

Which former Australian cricketer is affectionately known as "The Keg on Legs"?

We'll give you a hint - he's a batsman...

Boxing Day cricket is going to be awesome

This Boxing day has got to be serving up some of the most eagerly awaited Test cricket action we have seen in years and if you haven't yet put some moneydown and want to open a sports betting account then click HERE (you can bet from as little as R8).

The Ashes (4th test)

I would give my left nut to be at the MCG tomorrow when 90000 people turn out to support either the Aussies or the Poms with the Ashes sitting at 1-1. Therehas been a bit of verbal, there has been a bit of controversy and there are a few injury concerns going around at the moment.

Taking a look at the betting:

On the outright win:
SportingBet are offering Australia at 7/5 while England are at 2/1

Voltbet are offering Australia at 10/7 while England are on offer at 15/8. 9/4 for the Draw.

Personally I just think home ground advantage and a fired up team is likely to play in favour of the Australians. I've also backed Michael Hussey (4/1) andMichael Clarke (9/2) as the top run scorers for the Aussies in the first innings and knowing how Kevin Pietersen thrives on pressure games I've backed him asthe top English run scorer (4/1).

It is going to be an absolute thriller!

South Africa versus India

India really need to do something to get onto the score sheet and if there was a venue where they'd fancy themselves it would be Kingsmead. Personal feelingthough is that the home side just packs too much firepower at the moment. The Indians showed a bit of heart in the second innings at Centurion but I can't say the instilled any fear in our bowlers.

Sportingbet is offering evens on South Africa to win the test match while offering India at 9/2. 6/4 on the draw
Voltbet is offering 11/10 on South Africa and 9/2 on India

I've also backed Hashim Amla as the top run scorer at 9/2

Should make for a cracking couple of days of cricket!

Video - Herschelle Gibbs

For those who missed it, last month Herschelle Gibbs created quite a stir with the release of his book "To The Point". Lots of sordid tales of cricketers behaving badly, but also plenty of insight into what really happens on a cricket tour and some insight into who Herschelle Gibbs really is.

I came across this video interview with him and thought it might give another side to this world-class cricketer.



If you want to order the book online you can order it HERE

Test cricket is fun!

There are two absolutely awesome test matches on the go at the moment and both are proving absolutely brilliant adverts for test match cricket.

Australia fighting back against the English
The Ashes always come with an added edge but when the Aussies are on the back foot, the home crowd is asking tough questions of their players and the English players (firmed with some good old fashioned South African blood) have their tails up... THIS is what test cricket is all about. Really enjoying the fact that Australia are bouncing back and putting the poms back in their place.

South African versus India
I was a little worried when the first day nearly got wiped out by rain but the South Africans stepped up to the plate... and in between that Jacques Kallis FINALLY got his double hundred. Not sure that the Indians have the bowling attack to make themselves overly competitive this series but they sure as hell are not standing back on the batting front!

Damn this test cricket is exciting....

Crazy cricket bet

Two absolutely massive cricket matches kick off tomorrow and one has to believe that if the stage were ever set for a Test match cricket advert then it will be centred around tomorrows' matches.

I have actually taken a rather "wild" set of bets around these games and I'd like to think I'm in with quite a good chance despite what all the nay-sayers think.

Perhaps the most intriguing game is the match up between Australia and England in the third Ashes test. Who could ever have imagined that Australia would be on the ropes and staring down the barrel of a home series defeat? Certainly not I... which is why I have backed the Aussies to bounce back and not only win the third test but actually over-turn the 1-0 deficit and win the series.

My thinking is simple. Aussies at home - losing stings and much like South Africans they hate to lose and are at their most dangerous when their backs are up against the ropes.

Closer to home - and rain permitting - the South Africans kick off their test series against the Indians. India have proven to be a real handful under the watchful eye of Gary Kirsten but playing against South Africa in their own backyard is no easy ask.

I've backed South Africa to win both the first test match as well as the series.

So there we go. Aussies to overturn their loss and bounce all the way back to beat the poms and SA to kick off their series winning exploits with a win in the first match.

If you also want to take a punt on the cricket please click HERE and open an account.