Australia have nothing left to play for in the Third Test but pride following another disastrous batting performance in Delhi. Can the Aussies hit back?
Head-to-Head
Don’t fall over yourself to back India at $1.33 but the home side have to be favoured after two terrible batting collapses by the visitors.
The Aussies would be tremendously frustrated after being in strong positions in both Tests. They’ve won the toss twice and had India on the ropes in their first digs, at 5/168 in the first Test and 7/139 (!!) in the second, before Jadeja and Patel got them out of trouble.
Of course, the second innings batting has been the issue. Being knocked over for 91 and 113 is embarrassing for a line-up of this quality and a team-wide issue with spin on deteriorating decks is unlikely to be solved this tour.
Alarmingly for the visitors, India have barely flexed their batting muscle, with Sharma the only top six batter averaging more than 25 and that was all due to one knock of 120. The home side are due some luck with the coin toss and their batting could explode.
They’ve also dominated their two matches at this venue, smashing New Zealand by 321 runs and Bangladesh by an innings and 120 runs. For what it’s worth, they are 6-0 in one dayers here too.
Add to this Pat Cummins’ absence for family reasons and the likely inclusion of two underdone players in Starc and Green, and it looks another long Test for the Australians.
Best Bet
Ashwin has been brilliant this series, taking 14 wickets at a tick under 14.
He’s cleared 2.5 wickets in each of his four innings and absolutely ripped it up in one of the two Tests India have played at this venue, taking 13 wickets against a decent Kiwi line-up back in 2016.
Value Bet
Lyon was the dominant bowler for Australia in the Second Test, taking seven wickets – four more than any other player.
Think the Indians have Todd Murphy figured out for now while Kuhnemann didn’t look too threatening against this line-up in his debut Test.
The experience of Lyon should see this hit again.
Despite being dismissed for less than 10 twice this series, Handscomb has probably looked the most comfortable Aussie batter.
He’s been close to top scoring in both first innings, scoring 31 (18 behind) and 72 (9 behind) and may even be bumped up the order to five with Head opening and Green rejoining the batting at six.
Decent value at over $6.00.
This is an outrageous price for the player with the highest batting average this series – 79 from two innings.
Yes, he bats at eight but Patel has proven very difficult to dismiss and with India’s top six looking a bit flimsy, he’s absolutely worth a wager at a monster price.
