The final and decisive Test between Australia and India will begin at The Gabba in Brisbane on Friday morning, and we are set for yet another memorable contest.
Australia squandered a great opportunity to take a 2-1 series lead when they failed to bowl out India on the final day of the Sydney Test, but they will be buoyed by a return to The Gabba; a ground at which they have not lost a Test Match for more than 30 years.
That statistic is well and truly echoed in the market here at Neds, and the Australians have opened $1.50 favourites to beat India ($5) in the fourth Test and win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Our brief match preview and complete Australia vs India tips can be found below.
Australia
Australia haven’t lived up to their billing as the world’s number one ranked Test nation this summer, but they have shown glimpses of brilliant form and are still fitting favourites ahead of the Gabba Test.
The decision to hand Will Pucovski a debut in Sydney was almost immediately franked when the young opener charged past 50 in his first innings, and while he fell soon after (62), he looks to be a player with a very bright future in the Baggy Green.
The pitch didn’t offer a lot to the bowlers, and that was well and truly underlined by spinner Nathan Lyon’s figures, and the overall inability to dismiss India on Day 5.
Barring potentially forced injury changes, namely the clearly underdone David Warner and Pucovski himself, coach Justin Langer is more than likely to take the same side into the Brisbane Test, where conditions will suit.
India
They went to water in the second innings at the Adelaide Oval but responded with a truly magnificent win in the Boxing Day Test, and India can retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by either winning or drawing against Australia in Brisbane.
While they have continued to return spirited performances, made more impressive by the absence of captain Virat Kohli, they face a new problem ahead of Friday’s match; finding a complete and competitive team to field.
Already without pacemen Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma, as well as KL Rahul, India suffered plenty of new casualties in Sydney, namely previously in-form allrounder Ravi Jadeja.
With everything on the line and plenty working against them, it will take a herculean effort for India to win in Brisbane, but if there is one Test side that simply cannot be written off currently, it’s them.
Australia vs India Betting & Tips
Australia has always relished playing at The Gabba and they have continued to receive bulk support in betting since markets went up on Monday evening, now clear and justifiable $1.50 favourites.
Steve Smith’s return to form in Sydney has seen him pegged as the $3.25 favourite to top score for Australia in the first innings again, ahead of Marnus Labuschagne ($3.75), David Warner ($4.50) and Will Pucovski ($5.50).
Given the match is being played at The Gabba, Labuschagne’s home ground, I’m going to take the value on offer for him, on the second line of betting.
Cheteshwar Pujara was as safe as houses for a long time in both Sydney innings’, and he has firmed onto the top line of betting for India alongside captain Ajinkya Rahane, both rated $3.75 favourites.
Steve Smith won Man of the Match honours for his first innings’ century in Sydney, but given I am backing Labuschagne to fire at his home ground, I’m also going to double down in this market.
Tips:
- Australia to Win @ $1.50
- Marnus Labuschagne Australia Top Runscorer (1st Innings) @ $3.75
- Ajinkya Rahane India Top Runscorer (1st Innings) @ $3.75
- Marnus Labuschagne to be named Man of the Match @ $8