The thrilling Test series between Australia and India draws to a close this week when the fourth and final match takes place at The Gabba in Brisbane with it being very much the winner takes all as far as the spoils are concerned.
India’s wonderful rearguard action on the final day in Sydney means the two sides begin this last Test match with the score tied at 1-1 in the series. India currently hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy so Australia have to win the regain it.
Australia
You have to think that Australia will be kicking themselves that they were not able to get the upper hand in the series at Sydney having dominated the majority of the Test match. As it was, despite being in control for much of the match there was a brief moment on the final day where it could have slipped away from them. We are used to Australian sides gone by being ruthless in that situation so it was a surprise and very revealing that they were not able to get the job done.
There are still huge concerns over this Australia batting line-up with the same two men largely being the ones to score the runs. Clearly Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are class acts but it is not a good position to be in to be so reliant on two men. The other thing that is starting to become an issue is that their much vaunted bowling attack hasn’t really looked up to the mustard in the last couple of matches.
India
Given the insane amount of injuries they have had to endure on this tour so far, it is almost a miracle that India are level in the series and still have a chance of claiming the spoils going into the last match. Sadly for them those injuries have largely come to their seam bowlers so their stocks are being tested to the full, but a combination of good pressure from the spinners and astute captaincy from Ajinkya Rahane has kept them in it.
This will be a big test for the credentials of the Indians. I say that because their attack is going to be depleted and also because they are walking into something of an Australian fortress here at The Gabba and even though there isn’t going to be a packed house here, Australia play these conditions so well. If India are going to tame Australia here they have to make a good start and they have to put up a decent first innings score.
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Team News
It is one and done for his Test career for now for Will Pucovski as his shoulder injury has ruled him out of this match. Marcus Harris will come in and open the batting in what is an otherwise unchanged side for this final Test.
India are forced into three changes for this match with Hanuma Vihari, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the Test. Mayank Agarwal and Kuldeep Yadav could be two of the men to come in with Shardul Thakur likely to be Bumrah’s replacement.
Betting
I’ll finish the series with one bet which comes in the form of a player performance and that is the man who is in action on his home ground in this match in Marnus Labuschagne. His performance line is 109.5 which feels on the high side but given how well he is batting these days I’m not convinced it is high enough. That is especially the case when you think his two Test innings on this ground have been 81 and 185. There isn’t an inch of this ground that he doesn’t know.
Labuschagne was pottering around with bits and pieces innings until we got to Sydney although I suspect the preparation for the series was a lot to do with that. The other thing of interest is that Labuschagne has bowled in every Test match thus far and although he is yet to take a wicket that option remains there. Ultimately though, Labuschagne faces an Indian attack missing its three best seam bowlers and the spinner who takes the ball away from his outside edge so he should in theory score better here than anywhere else. I’ll take over 109.5pts.
Tips
WON – Back M.Labuschagne’s Performance – Over 109.5 points for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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