This is the week cricket fans have been waiting for — Australia’s tour of India begins. It’s a match-up that has produced some of the best cricket games in history over the past 70 years, and this tour is looking like it will do just that. With Australia and India ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Test cricket and playing four Test matches to determine who wins the Border-Gavaskar Trophy before getting stuck into three ODIs as well, there’s plenty to look forward to over the next six weeks.
We look at the betting odds for the first Test match with bookmaker William Hill and break down all the best bets to place ahead of the first ball being bowled on Thursday.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 7th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
Traditionally, India vs. Australia Test matches favour the home side. In the 70+ years that these two teams have been playing Test cricket against each other, Australia has only won four series in India, three of which were more than 50 years ago. This heavy weighting is reflected in the bookies’ odds with India paying 1.73 to win against Australia’s 3.60.
The real money here is betting on a draw, however. With odds of 5.00, it’s by far the most lucrative outcome from a betting perspective—and we say there’s a fair chance it will happen. In each of the past four India vs. Australia series, there has been at least one drawn Test. It’s true that India is traditionally excellent at bowling teams out on their home pitches with spinners late in Test matches, but this Nagpur pitch is expected to be batter-friendly. As well as this, both teams have been scoring big runs recently, meaning there’s a strong chance this first Test will see a high scoring stalemate ending in a draw.
Looking at other potential bets, wagering on the top run scorer or wicket taker for each side is a great market.
Here, Pujara is looking strong to be India’s top run scorer. The top order batsman is a world-class Test batsman with 19 centuries and 34 half centuries who also likes to score big, making 19 centuries, seven of which have been above 150, with three double tons. It’s high time that Pujara makes another of these mammoth scores, and betting that he’ll do it in the first innings to set the tone for the series is a great wager.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 7th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
For Australia, Nathan Lyon has an excellent shot at being the top bowler. The veteran loves to tour India. When he first visited in 2012-13, he picked up 15 wickets in three Tests at an economy of 4.40. Last time, Lyon collected 19 wickets at an economy of 2.88. Recently, he’s been great form, taking 22 wickets across his last five Tests in Australia. With India’s pitches getting more and more spin-friendly as time goes on, Lyon could well take plenty of wickets if Australia are bowling on the third or fourth day at India.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 7th, 12:00 P.M. (GMT)
