After two years of Test match cricket, it all comes down to this: Australia and India fighting it out in England squeezed into the calendar between the IPL and the Ashes. It may be somewhat of an odd time and location for an Australia vs. India Test match, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of this fixture. Come Sunday, one of these two teams will be crowned World Test Champions for 2021-2023.
Both teams have been head and shoulders above the rest of the world over the past two years when it comes to the WTC points table. With Australia sitting No. 1 and India not far behind them, what will separate the two at the Oval this week? Could it be the recent injury to Jasprit Bumrah? Or will it be Labuschagne’s batting?
We break down all the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill and recommend the best bets to make on the World Test Championship Final 2021-2023.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 6th, 5:00 A.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright betting odds from bookmaker William Hill, Australia is a slight favourite. However, odds of only 1.91 to 2.62 do not indicate a certain Australian victory. In fact, if anything, they tell us that this will be anyone’s game.
The last time these two teams met, it was a tale of two halves and dominated by the conditions. With Australia traveling to India, they quickly lost the first two Tests of the series, falling behind 2-0 in an anti-climactic start to the series. The visitors grabbed one back in the third Test, however, and gritted out a draw in the fourth.
Playing cricket in England is very different to playing in India, however. While the conditions usually heavily favour one side, here in England it should be a level playing field. We say that the determining factor will be each side’s fast bowling lineups and their ability to capitalise on any early swing, plus keep tight, economical lines across two innings. With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the Indian team due to injury, Australia’s bowlers should have more class over the course of the Test match and win it for them.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: June 6th, 5:00 A.M. (GMT)
One bright spot for India should be their batting. Both Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill are in excellent form off the back of the IPL and we say that will continue here in England. We suggest betting on Gill to be India’s top run scorer in the first innings simply because he’s in indomitable form this year. His 890 runs in the IPL came via no less than three centuries and the last time he played Test cricket for India, he scored a century against Australia.
