Cook to out-score Clarke as captains both prepare for 100th Test

Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook both registered centuries when the WACA in Perth hosted England in the 2006/07 Ashes series, with Australia going on to secure victory in the Test by 206 runs.

However, Aussie skipper Clarke has failed to replicate this feat since, with two half-centuries the best he has mustered in his last six Tests at the ground.

In total, Clarke averages a modest 37 from eight career Tests in Perth, which is his lowest at any of the five Test-hosting grounds in Australia.

Therefore, it may pay to oppose the captain in any of the run-scoring markets ahead of the third Test of the Ashes.

Clarke is 8/11 in a straight head-to-head with fellow captain Cook as to who will score the most first-innings runs at the WACA, despite his best effort in his last four first innings at the ground being only 18.

Cook is 11/10 in opposition in the Ashes betting and looks a value call in the first ever instance of opposing captains both playing in their 100th Test in the same match.

What is also interesting is that in the last four Tests at the WACA, the highest score achieved by the team batting first in the match has only been 268. This total also hasn’t been bettered in the first innings of the match in the two Tests in Perth since England’s last visit either.

Therefore, although England’s failure to win a toss, and bat first as a result, has been blamed for falling 2-0 down in the series, batting second at the WACA may not be such a bad thing.

The other market to oppose Clarke is that of the top Australian batsman in the first innings, with David Warner a tempting alternative at 7/2.

Warner averages 74 from his three innings at the WACA, which includes a century.