What a fantastic finish it was to the 3rd Test in Sydney between Australia and India. The series is now tied at 1-1, setting up what should be a thrilling decider for the Border-Gavaskar trophy at the Gabba starting Friday!
A draw will be enough for India to retain the Border-Gavaskar but both teams will be hunting a win in an attempt to win the series outright. See our full preview and betting tips for the 4th Test below.
Australia vs India 4th Test Betting Tips
Gabba, Friday January 15th 11am (AEDT)
Australian Squad: Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, Mitch Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Indian Squad: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Mayank Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Thangarasu Natarajan, Rishabh Pant, Ceteshwar Pujara, Wriddiman Saha, Navdeep Saini, Rohit Sharma, Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, Hanuma Vihari
Squad Info
More bad news came out of the third Test for the Indians losing three key players. Spinner Ravi Jadeja will miss with a thumb injury while Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out with an abdominal strain. The two join the long list of absentees for the Indians that already includes KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and skipper Virat Kohli.
The health of Ravi Ashwin is also in question, meaning the Indians will be extremely depleted for this Test, and their bowling unit in particular will resemble one of an India A side. Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and spinner Kuldeep Yadav could combine with newcomer, left-armer Thangarasu Natarajan is Ashwin is ruled out.
Wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and batsman Hanuma Vihari could also miss, forcing the Indians to make up to 5 changes ahead of this Test. Pant looks more likely to play than Vihari, so he will likely slide up to No.6 as a batsman while Wriddhiman Saha takes the gloves.
The Aussies are a little more settled heading into the fourth Test, with the only questionable players being the openers David Warner and Will Puckovski, who are both fighting to prove their fitness. Marcus Harris is the obvious replacement if one of the two can’t play, if both are out then Matthew Wade will probably slide up to the opening position with Travis Head coming back into the middle order.
Match Prediction
We have really liked the look of the Indians in the last two Tests, one of which earned us a big pay-out, however, we just can’t back them again with their long list of outs. Jasprit Bumrah is a huge loss, particularly with the series heading to the Gabba, which has traditionally been a pace friendly wicket.
The Aussies have had an absolute stranglehold over games at the Gabba, having not lost a game there since all the way back in 1988. Their pace attack should relish the chance to get back on a bouncy wicket after the SCG pitch played really low and slow. Back Australia to keep their Gabba streak alive and claim the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
