Boxing Day Test Preview: Australia v India tips, prediction & odds update

Australia v India tips for Boxing Day Test 2020

Welcome to our Australia v India betting tips, prediction and odds analysis for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG from Saturday. 

The Australians have taken a 1-0 lead in the best-of-four Test series that is pitting the No.1 and no.2 Test Championship teams against each other. 

The Aussies’ 1st Test victory was set up by a magnificent bowling display in the second innings, with Josh Hazlewood claiming 5-8 as the Indians were dismissed for a paltry 36. 

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Compounding the tourists’ problems is that skipper Virat Kohli has departed the country to be with his wife for the birth of their first child and paceman Mohammed Shami has a broken arm and will miss the remainder of the series, after being hit by a Pat Cummins bouncer. 

The Indians are likely to swing several changes, including Shubman Gill and KL Rahul into the top-order, while they may also switch out wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha for Rishabh Pant, who is a more accomplished batsman. 

Australia are unlikely to tinker with a winning formula, after Joe Burns staved off his form slump to make a half century in the second innings. Star opener David Warner has also been ruled out with his groin injury. 

The bookies have installed the Aussies at $1.33 to win this clash, while India are paying $5.50 to level the series. The draw is paying $7.60 and four days out that does not look a bad bet, with plenty of rain in the forecast. 

Continue reading for our free Australia v India tips, prediction and odds analysis for the Boxing Day Test starting on Saturday. 

Aus vs Ind match details and odds

Start:Saturday, December 26
Venue:MCG
H-2-H odds:Australia ($1.33) v India ($5.50)
Top batsman betting: Australia: Steve Smith $3.25, Marnus Labuschagne $4.50, Joe Burns $6, Matthew Wade $8; India: Cheteshwar Pujara $3, Ajinkya Rahane $5.50, KL Rahul $5.50, Mayank Agarwal $5.50.
Top bowler betting: India: Jasprit Bumrah $3.25, Ravichandran Ashwin $3.75, Umesh Yadav $4, Navdeep Saini $5; Australia Pat Cummins $3.25, Josh Hazlewood $3.75, Mitchell Starc $4, James Pattinson $4.50, Nathan Lyon $5

Australia v India 2nd Test tips

Our cricket betting expert has cast his eye over the markets and found some value Australia v India tips for the 2nd Test.

Pat Cummins man of match

Australia’s No.1 man with the ball, Pat Cummins, was outshone by Josh Hazlewood in Adelaide, but looms as the biggest threat with the red ball here. He is on the third line of betting for man-of-the-match honours and should give you a good sight at $10. We’re not sure why, but Warner remains in the market for man-of-the-match betting. Definitely steer clear of this, with many cricket betting sites not refunding if he does not play.  

Jasprit Bumrah most wickets for India

The unorthodox paceman still clearly gives the Australians the most trouble in the Indian pace attack. We expect him to again lead from the front and should enjoy the expected green deck at the MCG. 

Steve Smith to top-score for Australia in first innings

We are willing to give Smith another chance after a subdued first Test, where he failed to get going in the opening innings and then didn’t get an opportunity to score big in the second. Smith was in devastating white ball touch and will relish the switch from pink to red ball for this Test. 

Australia v India prediction 26/12/2020

Any team that beats Australia in Australia is going to earn it, with the Aussie bowling attack probably the strongest it has been since Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne terrorised touring teams. India must win this game to stay in the series, but we simply cannot see them making enough runs on a pitch that should offer a bit to the bowlers — with their technical flaws brutally exposed by the Aussie pacemen. Hopefully for the sake of the series Cheteshwar Pujara fires for the Indians here, or it could be another thrashing. Our final Australia v India winner prediction? Aussies by plenty, unless rain intervenes. 

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