3rd Test Match: Australia v India - Odds and Betting Preview

Story by Jack Howard on 2012-01-13 12:07:06

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – Australia and India return to the field for the second day of their 3rd Test Match in Perth tomorrow. Australia started the game with a 2-0 lead in their four match test series, and after one day’s play look to be firmly in control of this 3rd encounter. Michael Clarke’s side skittled the tourists for a meagre 161 – with Ben Hilfenhaus taking an impressive 4-43 – before piling on 149 runs without losing a wicket. The home side are in an extremely commanding position, and are therefore huge favourites to win the game at 1/12 (bet £12 to make £1 profit) with Betinternet. For those punters expecting the tourists to engineer an extraordinary comeback and win the game, however, India can be backed at 25/1 with bet365, whilst the draw is on offer at 14/1 with Blue Square.

The Australian bowlers rattled through the Indian batting line up today, making their star-studded top order look ordinary. The Australian opening batsmen then added insult to injury, as David Warner struck a magnificently swaggering 104 from just 80 balls before the umpires drew stumps at the end of play, supported by Ed Cowan’s unbeaten 40.

The Australian openers resume their partnership tomorrow morning, and will hope to amass an unassailable score. The bookmakers currently make Warner the favourite to be dismissed first at 13/10 with Blue Square. Cowan, on the other hand, who has been playing a more safe and defensive game, is thought likely to stay at the crease for longer than his partner, and is on offer to be dismissed next at 4/6 with Blue Square.

The outlook for MS Dhoni’s Indian side, however, is doubly bleak. Not only do Australia have two batsmen currently occupying the crease who appear to be in full flow, but they also have a middle order full of quality batsmen on superb form. Warner is unsurprisingly the favourite to top score for his side in this game at 1/3 with William Hill, but many punters will be putting their money on other players further down the order. Captain Michael Clarke hit an immaculate 329 not out in the second test match – one of the finest innings ever seen at the SCG – and his odds of 16/1 with Sportingbet to top score will look appealing to many. Ricky Ponting, who made 134 in the same game, is available at identical odds of 16/1 with Sportingbet, whilst Michael Hussey, who amassed 150 not out, can be backed at longer odds of 25/1 with the same bookmakers.

If Dhoni’s side are to have any chance of denying Australia victory, then they will have to do two things: firstly they will have to bowl with a good deal more potency tomorrow morning, asking serious questions of the Australian batting line up; secondly, and even more importantly, they will have to bat with every ounce of stubbornness that they possess. Dhoni will look to his star batsmen to produce their best cricket. Sachin Tendulkar is currently the favourite to top score for the tourists in this game, and can be backed to do so at 7/2 with Blue Square. Fellow veteran Rahul Dravid has a particular track record for producing defiant performances in difficult situations, and is on offer to hit the most runs for his side at 4/1 with 888Sport, whilst Virender Sehwag is available at 9/2 with the same bookmakers. Whether these batsmen can rise to the challenge will doubtless have a central impact on the outcome of this 3rd test match.

Play resumes at 02.30 GMT

Australia v India Odds