With early bragging rights falling the way of India, Australia will attempt to level the four-test series when the two proud cricketing nations meet in Perth from Friday.
The first test in Adelaide produced many memorable moments and will be remembered as one of the better fought and even opening tests in Australia since the turn of the century.
On a deck that should suit their fast bowling ranks down to the ground, Australia have opened as $2.25 outsiders to beat India ($2.15) in the second test at Perth.
Australia
It has become a very common theme for the Australian cricket team and it materialised again in Adelaide. The bowlers more than did their job, but the team was ultimately let down by the inability of any player to shine with the bat.
The first test really did look set up for Australia when they dismissed India for a measly 250 in the first innings, but the world’s number 1-ranked test nation stood up and answered the call by bowling Tim Paine’s men out for only 235.
There has been several calls from the Australian cricketing fraternity to hold true to the eleven players that lined up in Adelaide and it does look like that could happen, but one change that Australia may elect to make is substituting batsman Peter Handscomb for all-round Mitchell Marsh, who would bolster the fast bowling ranks, without losing too much in the middle order.
Predicted XI for Perth Test: Tim Paine (C & WK), Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
Top Run Scorer Tip (1st Innings): Shaun Marsh ($4.50)
Top Wicket Taker Tip (1st Innings): Josh Hazlewood ($3.75)
India
With victory in Adelaide, India secured their first test win on Australian soil in more than a decade and took a big step towards claiming their first ever series win in the country.
Though outspoken captain and arguably the world’s best test batsman Virat Kohli failed to fire, he was ably supported by his team, particularly in the second innings and India’s bowling attack did enough to dismiss Australia cheaply.
The key to going on with the job undoubtedly lies with India’s fast bowlers backing up in what will be far-more taxing conditions in Perth, and where they will be required to do a lot more work. Spinner Ravi Ashwin bowled fifty overs in the second innings at Adelaide and the pace attack of Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami combined for only sixty.
Predicted XI for Adelaide Test: Virat Kohli (C), Mohammad Shami, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Ajinkya Rahane, Lokesh Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravi Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Murali Vijay.
Top Run Scorer Tip (1st Innings): Virat Kohli ($3.25)
Top Wicket Tip (1st Innings): Jasprit Bumrah ($3.50)
Australia vs India Betting
This undoubtedly looms as Australia’s best chance to gain some confidence and ultimately, win a test match. They represent great value on the pace-friendly Perth deck at $2.25.
As stated several times, the conditions on offer suggest that it could be a big five days for each nation’s pace fraternity and backing a player like Josh Hazlewood ($11) for Australia or Jasprit Bumrah ($13) for India to be named the Player of the Match could prove to be a lucrative betting play.