Cricket: 2nd Test Match - Australia v India Odds and Betting Preview

Story by Michael Peet on 2012-01-01 16:00:00

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Australia take on India in the second test of their four-match series, with the hosts looking to take a 2-0 series lead. They're 6/5 favourites with Skybet to do just that, while India are 12/5 outsiders for victory at Betfred. Stan James are going 5/2 that the match is drawn.

After a turbulent year, which began with a landmark home Ashes defeat and saw the retirement of Ricky Ponting as captain, Australian cricket finally seems to be heading in the right direction. The Baggy Greens have managed to avoid defeat in all of their test series since their humiliation against England, and will be full of confidence heading into their second meeting with India. The Aussie bowlers - in particular the trio of James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, and the rejuvenated Ben Hilfenhaus - caused havoc against the India batting order in the first test, and useful batting displays from Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting would suggest their is still life in some of the Australian team's more seasoned members.

India, by contrast, look to be heading the opposite way. Their 4-0 test series demolition at the hands of England in the summer did much to highlight to fragility of their ageing batsmen, and the futures of Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, and even the ever-present Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid have been subject to continued speculation. Still, there is no doubting the enduring quality of the Indian team, who remain 2nd in the test world rankings; after all, they managed a World Cup win just a matter of months ago. 

Despite two unconvincing batting displays in the series opener, Aussie skipper Michael Clarke is top chance to high-score for his team in in match, coming in at 4/1 with Ladbrokes and Stan James. Ricky Ponting is available at the same price with Blue Sqaure, while Mike Hussey, whose 89 gave Australia their platform for victory at the MCG, is an 11/2 shot with bet365.

For India, the usual suspects dominate the odds lists for top Indian batsman: Rahul Dravid is 4/1 at Stan James, and Ladbrokes are offering the same price for Virender Sehwag and the well-backed Tendulkar. For some bigger odds, VVS Laxman, so often Australia's nemesis in the past, is 6/1 to outscore his team-mates in the match, while Virat Kohli, widely touted as the future of Indian batting, can be backed at 17/2 in the same market with bet365.

Punters may well be interested to know that BetVictor have offered to refund all losing pre-match top batsman bets if the captain finishes top-scorer.

James Pattinson and Peter Siddle are joint 5/2 favourites at William Hill to emerge the pick of Australia's bowling attack, but after a superb display in the series curtain-raiser Ben Hilfenhaus is surely worth a shot at 11/4 with the same firm. For India, Zaheer Kahn and 24-year old Umesh Yadav both impressed with the ball at Melbourne: Kahn is 5/2 favourite at William Hill for top Indian bowler while Yadav is narrowly behind at 11/4 with BetVictor.

Boylesports make Australia 19/20 favourites to produce the highest opening partnership and are going 6/5 that India take a first innings lead. All firms, meanwhile, are universally agreed that both teams have a 10/11 chance of winning the toss.

The match begins at 1030 local time on the 3rd January 2012 (2330 GMT on the 2nd January 2012).

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