Cricket: 1st Test – Australia v India Odds and Betting Preview

 0 Comments  George Coombs 2011-12-25 07:00:02

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The traditional Boxing Day test at a packed MCG in Melbourne is the opening match in this test series between Australia and India. A result has been obtained in the last eleven test matches played at this ground and the last time Australia drew a game in Melbourne was back in 1997, against South Africa. The Australians have won 17 and lost only six of their 30 Boxing Day test matches but look vulnerable here against an Indian side packed full of experience.

Australia have been priced up as the standout 5/4 favourites at Ladbrokes whilst the visitors India can be backed at 14/5 with bet365 to take a one-nil lead in this four match series. A draw over the five days is quoted at 5/2 with Sportingbet for any punters who predict there will be nothing to separate these sides.

Australia suffered a demoralising defeat against neighbours New Zealand in their last test match which resulted in a 1-1 drawn series on home soil. They are currently going through a transitional period following their Ashes defeat to England this time last year.  Ed Cowan is set to start his first test and has been in great form recently scoring a centaury in the warm up match against India, which was his fourth in successive matches. Ricky Pointing keeps his place following a barren spell which has seen him not score a test century in nearly two years.

India arrive Down-Under with a team full of batting talent but lacking a potent bowling attack. This will be the final opportunity in which many greats of the Indian game can finally try to win a series in Australia whilst legend Sachin Tendulkar is still searching for his 100th international hundred. Praveen Kumar and Varun Aaron have been ruled out of the tour by injury and so India need their understrength bowling line-up to find their lines and lengths quickly in these conditions. 

In the Top Australian Batsman market skipper Michael Clarke is quoted at 4/1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill whilst Shaun Marsh is a general 5/1 chance to top his side’s run-scoring charts in this test match. Ricky Ponting has been priced up at an industry best of 5/1 with Sportingbet and will make up the middle order with Michael Hussey who is available at 11/2 with Blue Square. David Warner was in stunning form in the Big Bash T20 league and priced at 5/1 with Ladbrokes he should go well if he can transfer this form to the longer version of the game.

India arrive with a depth of batting talent and three players, Raul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar  are all priced at 4/1 with Ladbrokes in the Top Indian Batsman market. Dravid has been in superb touch all year when others have struggled and the veteran has amassed 1067 runs in 2011 and looks set to add many more to this total. VVS Laxman has a great record against Australia, averaging 54 in his previous three tours in Australia and is a standout 13/2 with bet365.

Peter Siddle will lead the Australian attack this series and is quoted at 5/2 with Stan James in the Top Australian Bowler for this opening test. The young James Pattinson can be backed at 5/2 with Blue Square to cause the Indian batsmen trouble with his pace and bounce. Ben Hilfenhaus and Nathan Lyon make up the four man Australian attack, both priced at 10/3 with bet365 in this market.

In the Top Indian Bowler betting, Zaheer Khan is a standout 5/2 with Ladbrokes whilst Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin are 3/1 with Ladbrokes and Skybet respectively.  Ashwin is their only front-line spinner and he along with Umesh Yadav a 3/1 chance with Stan James have never bowled in Australia before so much will depend on how they adapt to the conditions. 

Play begins at 23.30 GMT on Sunday 25th December and the match is broadcast live on Sky Sports 1.

Australia v India – Match Result Odds
Australia v India – Top Australian Batsman Odds
Australia v India – Top Indian Batsman Odds
Australia v India – Top Australian Bowler Betting
Australia v India – Top Indian Bowler Odds 

Australia v India – Test Series Betting Preview