The two highest-ranked Test nations in the world head to Indore for the third of four Tests. BetDeluxe profiles both teams as the Indians look to make it 3-0.
India vs. Australia
1st march
It will be a new-look Australian team in the third Test against India at Indore as the tourists attempt to find a hint of form after two disastrous displays on the subcontinent.
Having already decisively lost the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the Australians will need to rally after going down to the Indians by six wickets in Delhi on the back of another batting collapse.
With just one run separating the two sides after their first innings, the Australians were 2/85 before crumbling to the finger spin of Ravindra Jadeja (7/42) and Ravi Aswin (3/59). They were dismissed for 113 runs, losing their final eight wickets for 28. Only Travis Head (43) and Marnus Labuschagne (35) scored double figures as the Australian’s plan to sweep the spinners blew up in their face. Seven of the 10 wickets were either bowled or LBW.
From a bowling perspective, Nathan Lyon returned to form with 5/67 in the first innings. At the same time, Matt Kuhnemann’s left-arm orthodox provided another option in a spin-heavy attack with Lyon and Todd Murphy.
The Australians have lost significant personnel following the second Test, with David Warner (injury), Pat Cummins (family illness), and Ashton Agar (domestic cricket) joining Mitchell Swepson and returning home.
Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc is expected to return from a finger injury in place of Cummins, while Cameron Green is in the mix after recovering from his finger complaint. Head will likely continue to open the batting in place of Warner after hitting a 46-ball 43 when filling in at the top of the order in the second innings.
The Indians have little to worry about ahead of the third Test, with their two dominant victories assuring them of a spot in the ICC Test Championship against Australia. While the Indore pitch isn’t expected to turn quite as much as Delhi and Nagpur, with the current form of their two main spinners, Jadeja and Ashwin, it should matter little as they continue to cause issues for the Australian batsmen.
KL Rahul missed out again with scores of 17 and 1 in Delhi, but significant changes to the side aren’t expected as the Indians now look for a whitewash in front of the home crowd.
Despite a handful of fresh faces entering the Australian set-up for this Test, their planning and execution has been so poor that one couldn’t confidently go against the Indians in any way, shape or form.
Suggested Bet: R. Sharma Top Indian Batsmen @ $4.15
