Australia v India – 2nd Test Betting, odds and preview
2nd Test – Australia v India, begins Tuesday 3/1 at 10.30pm (AEDST) at SCG – Lates Odds HERE.
A WORD ON THE FIRST TEST:
Australia hadn’t defeated India in a Test match for four years before the Boxing Day Test. Four days later and the Australians had wiped the drought away with an emphatic 122-run victory in one of their best victories for 2011.
It was Australia’s pace attack that did the damage with the ball – and bat. James Pattinson was named Man of the Match for his six wickets and 55 runs, but the award could have easily gone to Ben Hilfenhaus or Peter Siddle. Hilfenhaus took 5-75 in the first innings and contributed 33 handy lower-order runs, while Siddle made 41 in Australia’s first innings and ended up with six wickets for the match, including Sachin Tendulkar twice.
Under enormous pressure, Ricky Ponting enjoyed one of his best Tests for a few years. The former captain made 62 and 60 in his two attempts at bat and could have easily gone on to make hundreds in both innings if it wasn’t for some excellent fast bowling. It was also great to see Michael Hussey score 89 in the second innings to give the Australians a handy lead.
India’s biggest asset, its batting, turned out to be its biggest weakness. Besides Tendulkar, no batsmen managed to string two decent innings together. For such an experienced and lethal batting line-up, that was extremely disappointing. Yes they were up against unexpected terrific bowling, but their shot selection, particularly in the second innings, was not what you would expect at Test level.
KEY PLAYERS:
Twelve months ago, Ben Hilfenhaus was the most unthreatening bowler playing for Australia. The English batsmen were putting him away with aplomb, meaning he finished the Ashes series with only seven wickets at a poor average of 59. But the 29-year-old is back with a vengeance and bowling as good as ever. Hilfenhaus was an inspired selection for the Melbourne Test, finishing with seven wickets for the match, including a career best 5-75 in the first innings. He was consistently bowling over 140 km/h and had the Indian batsmen in no man’s land as he swung the ball both ways. Hopefully for Australia’s sake, Hilfenhaus can continue his good form in Sydney.
VVS Laxman is the quintessential Test batsman. He oozes class, grace, guile and patience, but he also has the ability to turn up the heat when needed. But the 37-year-old has struggled for consistency in 2011, scoring just one century and averaging 40.68 from 12 Tests. He managed two and one in Melbourne and didn’t seem his natural self. However Laxman has an intimate relationship with the SCG and has endured plenty of success there in the past. He has scored a century in each of the three matches he has played at the venue and averages 96.20. Laxman’s knock of 178 in 2000 is considered one of the best knock by an Indian batsman in Australia. With such a good past record at the ground, you would expect the graceful one to bounce back this Test.
PITCH AND CONDITIONS:
This Test will be the 100th played at the SCG, but the pitch won’t be a traditional spin-friendly deck. There should be plenty in it for the fast bowlers on the first day with some extra grass, but it is expected to settle down and take a little more turn as the match progresses. However Sydney has been overwhelmed with cloud and frequent rain of late, so maybe the more fast bowlers the better for a team. The weather forecast for Sydney is for sun, sun and more sun for the entire five days, so we shouldn’t get any interruptions during the match.
TEAMS:
The Australian selectors took less than 24 hours to announce the squad for this test match and there were minimal changes. Dan Christian and Mitchell Starc, the two men who missed out on selection for the first test, have been dropped from the squad. There is only one replacement however, with star paceman Ryan Harris coming into the squad of 12. Harris has recovered from a back injury and has moved freely in two Big Bash League games for the Brisbane Heat in recent weeks. None of the three quicks will get dropped, so the question is whether you bring Harris in for Nathan Lyon, who struggled in the first test, and don’t play a spinner. That would be a big risk on a pitch that traditionally takes plenty of turn. Here is how the Australians are likely to line-up:
1. Ed Cowan
2. David Warner
3. Shaun Marsh
4. Ricky Ponting
5. Michael Clarke (C)
6. Michael Hussey
7. Brad Haddin
8. Peter Siddle
9. James Pattinson
10. Ben Hilfenhaus
11. Nathan Lyon/Ryan Harris
Yes the Indians should be very disappointed with their performance in the first Test. But there is no point in pushing any panic buttons now, especially with such an experienced line-up that has been doing the job for its country so well over the past few years. The four bowlers who played in Melbourne should retain their spots and so will the majority of the batsmen. However there is some debate over number six batsman Virat Kohli, who only managed 11 and a golden duck in Melbourne. He is only young and has the potential to do great things, but he is definitely the most vulnerable player in the team. Classy batsman Rohit Sharma could come straight in for him, or the Indians could play left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and move MS Dhoni and Ravi Ashwin up the order. Here is how the Indians are likely to line-up:
1. Gautam Gambhir
2. Virender Sehwag
3. Rahul Dravid
4. Sachin Tendulkar
5. VVS Laxman
6. Virat Kohli/Rohit Sharma/Pragyan Ojha
7. MS Dhoni (C/WK)
8. R Ashwin
9. Ishant Sharma
10. Zaheer Khan
11. Umesh Yadav
WHO WINS?
If the first Test of this series was just a taste of things to come, then this match should be just as intriguing and theatrical.
From a pitch and conditions point of view, the SCG should suit India. Yes the surface will still offer a fair bit for the Australian fast men, but the longer the Test goes the more it plays into the Indians’ hands. They love flat batting decks, which should start to occur around day three at the SCG, and they thrive on the slow turning wickets, which should begin happening late day four or early day five.
Therefore the key for Australia is to be aggressive, in all facets of the game, and win the match as early as possible. The Aussie batsmen must look to take the attack up to India’s bowlers from the onset. But when the time comes for the Australians to bowl, they must make the Indian batsmen play at every opportunity, meaning skipper Michael Clarke must place attacking fields so that no catching opportunities are missed.
The Australian bowling attack were outstanding in Melbourne, however they would know more than anyone else that players such as Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Laxman don’t get bogged down for too long. Hilfenhaus, Pattinson and Siddle need to pick up early wickets and put the Indians on the back foot.
However the last thing India, and the majority of the cricket world wants now, is for Australia to win this test and kill the series right here.
The Indians are a proud cricketing nation and will surely bounce back with a vengeance this Test. Expect Laxman and Tendulkar to play blinders when the Indians bat, which will automatically put the Australians on the back foot.
On a pitch that will suit them a little better than the Aussies, back the Indians to even up the series.
BEST HEAD-TO-HEAD BET:
India to win ($3.00)
AUSTRALIA HIGH BAT FIRST INNINGS:
Michael Clarke ($5.00)
INDIA HIGH BAT FIRST INNINGS:
VVS Laxman ($6.50)
AUSTRALIA FIRST WICKET TAKER INNINGS:
Ben Hilfenhaus ($3.00)
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