Australia will host India at Sydney Cricket Ground for the Fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series starting January 3. See the top picks and preview here.
Australia will host India at Sydney Cricket Ground for the Fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series starting January 3. See the top picks and preview here.
Australia v IndiaBorder-Gavaskar : Fifth Test Odds & Match Info |
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Best odds | Australia -181.82 at Bovada | Draw +400 at Bovada | India +160 at Bovada |
Start Time | Friday, January 3 – 10:30am AEDT |
Where | Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Sydney |
Watch live | Star Sports Network (IND), KAYO (AU), TNT SPORTS (UK) |
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy hangs in the balance as Australia takes a 2-1 series lead into the fifth and final Test at the SCG. With India needing a victory to retain the trophy, the stage is set for a thrilling finale.
Australia enters the match buoyed by their last-hour victory in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where Pat Cummins’ all-around brilliance (6 wickets and 90 runs) and Steve Smith’s masterful 140 set the tone.
Jasprit Bumrah kept India in contention with nine wickets, but the visitors fell short, losing seven wickets in the final session.
While Australia has momentum, India has shown resilience throughout the series and will be eager to bounce back.
Notably, weather forecasts suggest showers could play a role, potentially making the +400 odds with the top cricket betting sites for a draw appealing, as three of the last four Tests at the SCG have ended without a result.
The SCG pitch typically favors batsmen early but offers more assistance to spinners as the match progresses.
Australia: Mitchell Starc remains under an injury cloud due to a rib issue, with Jhye Richardson on standby. Mitch Marsh’s underwhelming series (73 runs at 10.4 average) could see him replaced by uncapped Beau Webster.
India: Changes are unlikely, though Rohit Sharma’s struggles at the top of the order may prompt a reshuffle, with KL Rahul potentially returning as an opener.
Australia’s superior consistency across all departments makes them the favorites to clinch the series. Their bowling depth has overshadowed India’s, with Jasprit Bumrah being the lone standout among India’s seamers. Rain could impact the match, but backing Australia at $1.80 remains the logical choice with the top betting sites.
Marnus Labuschagne’s stellar SCG record (averaging 81 with six fifties and a hundred) makes him a standout pick to score 50+ in the first innings at $2.80 with Bovada. His ability to anchor the innings amid more aggressive batting partners further bolsters his value.
For India, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been the standout batsman of the series, leading his team’s run-scoring tally and showing remarkable composure. With seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling, Jaiswal at $4.50 with Bovada to be India’s top first-innings scorer is a solid wager.