The Australian Cricket Team put in a disappointing performance in their five match ODI series in India, going down 4-1 with their ordinary batting being the telling factor in the losses. They’ll look to bounce back as they embark on a three match T20 series with the Indians starting Sunday night in Ranchi. We preview the series and give our betting tips below.
For all of their troubles with the bat through the ODI format, the Australians haven’t really made any changes to their top/middle order and will be banking on the shorter format to allow them to play more aggressively without fear of being bowled out before their allotted overs. It should benefit them as they suffered collapses in most of the ODI’s.
New South Welshman Moises Henriques comes into the squad while all rounders James Faulkner, Marcus Stoinis and Hilton Cartwright make way. Tim Paine will also get his chance behind the stumps while Pat Cummins will continue his busy workload leading the charge with the ball. Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson and Daniel Christian will make up the rest of the bowling attack.
India will go into the series with a very similar looking team to the one that romped the Aussies in the ODI series. Hard hitting batsman Shikhar Dhawan will likely open the batting with Rohit Sharma followed by a similar middle-lower order as the ODI’s led by Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya.
It’ll be another tough test for the Aussies here, but as we mentioned earlier we think the shorter format should even up the matches a touch. The chance of the Aussies getting bowled out should be decreased. At their best, the Australian batting line-up is probably as good as the Indians, the problem as been consistently finding their best over 50 overs, over just 20, the Aussies should be able to play more freely and aggressively.
In the end the pitches will still probably suit the medium pace and spin options of India though. No matter how many games the Australians play in the subcontinent, the selectors don’t seem to understand that taking 6’5 quicks who thrive on bouncy wickets to Asia just doesn’t pay dividends. Why they didn’t take a few more spinners and a few classy medium pace swing bowlers is beyond me and I think it’s probably why they’ll lose this series too.
We do expect the Aussies to pull a game out though. With Warner and Finch at the top of the order, it only takes one of them to go off in a T20 to take the game away from their opponents completely. India to win the series 2-1 seems like a good bet here.
TIP: India to win 2-1 - $2.40 at Sportsbet
There seems to only be two opening batsman selected in the Indian squad for the T20’s. Shikhar Dhawan didn’t play in any of the ODI’s so might take some time to get form. Rohit Sharma showed great form throughout the matches, however, and should get the first crack in three separate matches here, back him to be India’s top runscorer at good odds.
TIP: Rohit Sharma most series runs (India) - $3.75 at Sportsbet
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