Australia vs India – Test 2 Betting Tips

Australia will be eyeing another impressive performance against Virat Kohli-less India when the teams will clash in the most-anticipated Boxing Day Test.

The second match of the four-Test series will start from December 26 at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The home team will be coming in this match full of confidence after securing an impressive nine-wicket triumph in the opening game which was played in Adelaide.

On the other hand, team India will be coming in this match extremely low on confidence after suffering a thrashing defeat in the first Test which included an unprecedented 36 all out in the second innings, which was the lowest score by the Men in Blue in their history of five-day cricket.

Australia Form and Team News:

After an emphatic win in the first Test, the home team were always unlikely to make any significant changes in the playing XI for the second Test to be played at the MCG.

However, with the news confirming that star opener David Warner has been ruled out of the Boxing Day fixture, Mathew Wade and Joe Burns are almost certain to open the innings once again.

In the absence of the star opener, the team management will be banking on the likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and captain Tim Paine to score the bulk of the runs and put the visiting side under pressure.

On the bowling front, the pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will be once again hoping to tear apart the opposition’s batting line up.

India Form and Team News:

After a horror show in Adelaide, team India will now have to make very interesting and bold calls in the team selection for the second Test.

Captain Virat Kohli has already left the squad for the birth of his first child which means a replacement in the form KL Rahul might be a tempting option for the team management.

Opener Prithvi Shaw and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha’s spot is also uncertain after a horrid show in Adelaide and they might be replaced with the likes of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.

India are also certain to miss pacer Mohammad Shami who has been ruled of the remainder of the series as he fractured his wrist in the first Test after being hit by a ball while batting on the bowling of Cummins.

In his place, India might look to add all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja which will strengthen their batting unit as well or they can opt to give a Test cap to either Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini.

In the batting department, the visiting team management will be hoping to see the likes of the experienced duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara to stand up and make themselves count in the absence of Kohli by scoring some crucial runs whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be once again on the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin to produce timely breakthroughs.

Odds by Casumo

According to the Casumo sportsbook, Tim Paine’s Australia will start as firm favorites to win this Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. Australia are placed at 1.34 odds, while India at 6.00 odds.

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Our Tipster’s Angle

Before the series started, many anticipated that this will be one of the closest-fought Test series for some time but the result in the first match and the manner of India’s batting collapse changed the outlook altogether.

Therefore, it is extremely hard to not pick Australia as firm favorites to go 2-0 up with another impressive win in Melbourne in the Boxing Day Test.

Tip 1: Steven Smith’s Bradmanesque Record at MCG

After a rare failure with the bat in the opening game of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Smith will be keen to make a strong comeback in this Boxing Day Test. With David Warner once again ruled out of the second Test, the onus will be on Australia’s premier batsman Steven Smith to lead the way.

Melbourne Cricket Ground seems to be a happy hunting ground for Steven Smith in Test cricket. In just seven matches, Steven Smith has accumulated 908 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 113.5, with four centuries and three half-centuries to his name. So we are backing Steven Smith to score 90 or more runs @ 1.80.

Tip 2: Pat Cummins menacing form in five-day format.

There is no doubt that Pat Cummins is the number one ranked bowler in Test cricket. He will be looking to continue rich vein of form for Australia in this Boxing Day Test. With 70 wickets in his last 14 Tests, Cummins has shown incredible consistency for Australia.

At MCG, Cummins has put in impressive performances and claimed 18 wickets in just three matches at a superb average of 16.16 with five-wicket hauls to his name. So we are backing Pat Cummins to take five or more wickets @2.00

Conclusion

Expect Australia to take unassailable 2-0 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

  1. Steven Smith to score 90 or more runs – Australia @1.80
  2. Pat Cummins to take five or more [email protected].

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