The final part of the Indian international summer sees India take on Australia in a four match Test series which begins later this week. India have been dominant in a batch of Test series in recent times and will be looking to finish with a clean sweep.
Australia’s challenge is significant but if they can deny India a series win it will rate as a fine achievement, one that ranks up there with anything any Australian side in the past has accomplished.
Schedule
1st Test: Feb 23-27 at Pune
2nd Test: Mar 4-8 at Bangalore
3rd Test: Mar 16-20 at Ranchi
4th Test: Mar 25-29 at Dharamsala
India
India have played nine home Test matches so far this winter and they have won eight of them and drawn the other and in truth the matches they have won they have obliterated the opposition. Eight wickets or 178 runs have been the smallest winning margins which is pretty incredible especially when eight of those matches were against competent sides in England and New Zealand.
The main reason for that has been the change to ensuring their Test cricket is played on result wickets. Any wicket which is prepared for a result in India is going to suit India, quite rightly so, and right now they have the side to really take advantage of that hence their dominant run of form. We can be assured they will be out to continue that in this series.
Australia
The Australians have been equally as dominant in the last couple of months after they were torn apart in their own back yard by South Africa. As it turned out that became a blessing in disguise as they took care of Pakistan and now face this acid test.
The fact that Australia sent players over weeks ago tells us how seriously they are embracing the challenge and if their players aren’t prepared for what they are facing with the preparation they have had they never will be. Whether their batsmen have the patience for these conditions remain to be seen. It also remains to be seen whether they have the spin artillery to be competitive.
Head to Head
There have been 24 previous Test series between these two nations. Australia have won 12 of them with India victorious on seven occasions and there have been five drawn series. India have won the last three series in India and lead 7-4 with a couple of drawn series overall at home. In Test matches Australia have a 40-24 lead with 25 draws and one tie.
Betting
India win this series for me. We saw in Sri Lanka that Australia just can’t put up the big totals in these conditions and I’m expecting to see exactly the same here. The question is whether India will win 4-0 or if Australia can get a result of some kind somewhere. With Dharamsala on the venue list that can’t be ruled out but there isn’t much value in the correct score markets anyway with them rightfully heavily weighted on India.
In terms of a bet there is only one I like in this series and that is on Steve Smith to be the top Australian series batsman. He is the only one in the side with both the patience and the quality to deliver the goods here. It is no surprise to me that he top scored in Sri Lanka as he is set up to combat spinners and play lengthy innings. He has tons of experience in Indian conditions from the IPL too so even at 9/4 I think he’ll take a lot of beating in the Australian run scoring.
Tips
WON – Back S.Smith Top Australia Series Batsman for a 3/10 stake at 3.25 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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