Australia Vs India Cricket Test IV Preview, Betting Tips and Odds

India retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy with their win over Australia in the Boxing Day Test, but there is still a lot to play for in the fourth and final test at the SCG. India lead the series 2-1, but the Aussies will be looking to salvage national pride and level the series in Sydney.

Can Aussies Defy the Odds?

Despite being number one in the ICC test rankings, India came into this series as underdogs, having only won five out their previous 44 tests in Australia. They well and truly defied the odds in this series, with wins in the first test at Adelaide Oval and third test at the MCG, making Virat Kohli the first Indian captain to win two tests in Australia and marking the first time India has retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy on Australian soil.

What a win!! Proud to be part of this unit . Onto Sydney now. Jai hind ?????? pic.twitter.com/DsW8WXRMGj

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) 30 December 2018

Now it’s the Aussies’ turn to try to defy the betting odds. Australia go in as clear underdogs for the first time in this series, with Bet365 paying 2.40 for an Aussie win, compared to 2.10 for an Indian win and 6.00 for a draw.

Result Expected on Spin-Friendly Wicket

The three previous tests all delivered decisive results, and the same is expected on a spin-friendly SCG pitch. India is expected to make at least one change, with middle-order batsman Rohit Sharma flying home for the birth of his first child. Marnus Labuschagne is almost certain to come into the team for the Aussies to give support to fellow spinner Nathan Lyon. Unibet is paying 6.50 for Lyon to be top bowler, behind India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin, with Labuschagne way back on 19.00.

Pat Cummins is now the No.3 Test bowler in the world after his efforts in the third #AUSvIND Test in Melbourne: https://t.co/nZjNWQUH0l pic.twitter.com/cswGXgzprU

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) 31 December 2018

Aussie openers Aaron Finch and Marcus Harris managed just 0 and 28 before the fall of the first wicket in Adelaide, 112 and 59 in Perth, and 25 and 6 in Melbourne. Neds is paying 1.90 for an Aussie opening partnership of more (or less) than 26.5 in Sydney.