The third Test between Australia and India will begin at the SCG on Thursday and we are set for another thrilling contest.
Australia took a 1-0 series lead into the Boxing Day Test, but they simply couldn’t account for the class of India, who managed to record a memorable victory, made more impressive by the absence of captain Virat Kohli.
With the series now tied and everything on the line, Australia have received plenty of patriotic support in Third Test betting and are now $1.67 favourites to defeat India ($3.75).
We’ve previewed the match and provided our best betting plays ahead of the Third Test below.
Australia
The series was set up for Australia when the Boxing Day Test commenced, but it became apparent almost immediately that they would need to go to another level, and they didn’t.
Joe Burns failed and ultimately played himself out of the squad, no player managed to score fifty in the match for the first time in a long time, and even the world class bowling attack weren’t as potent.
Those are just a few examples of why Australia were comfortably beaten in Melbourne.
Thursday does however offer a fresh slate and prospects, a new-look side will take the field, and that has clearly translated into big interest for the Aussies in betting.
India
Any side without their best (perhaps the world’s best) player is clearly going to face a hard time of things, but you wouldn’t have known that was what India was dealing with in Melbourne.
They looked a side who had learned from the mistakes made in Adelaide, who were united in their absence of their leader, and hungry to win, and it translated into an impressive victory.
As anticipated, Ajinkya Rahane took to captaincy like a duck to water and lead from the front with an outstanding century in the first Innings, while the emergence of paceman Mohammad Siraj garnered what was an all-round impressive performance from India.
The $3.75 available at publish looks to be over the odds and India are a live chance of taking a 2-1 series lead in Sydney.
Australia vs India Betting & Tips
The SCG has proven to be a cauldron for Australia in recent summers and that alone is probably why they have been priced as such firm favourites and have continued to receive support at the price.
India began the Boxing Day Test at odds of $5.50 to win, and while we aren’t getting that price again, they still represent outstanding value at $3.50.
No Australian player has managed to hit a century so far this series, but there is no doubt that Marnus Labuschagne has been the shining light in Australia’s order, and another triple-figure score doesn’t look far away.
Rahane’s first innings knock was one of, if not the best of his career to date, and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be able to produce something similar in Sydney.
Finally, I’m going to dive back into Man of the Match betting and double down on Labuschagne.
With Australia pegged as such clear favourites and Labuschagne looking the most likely to post a big score in Sydney, the $8 available in this market looks a touch of overs.
Tips:
- Marnus Labuschagne Australia Top Runscorer (1st Innings) @ $3.75
- Ajinkya Rahane India Top Runscorer (1st Innings) @ $4
- Marnus Labuschagne to be named Man of the Match @ $8