Couch Critic previews the second test match between Australia and India including best bets from @Olimp_SA
AUSTRALIA vs INDIA 2nd Test, Melbourne. Saturday 26 Dec @ 01:30
If your Christmas pressies aren’t quite up to scratch, don’t fear – you can switch to some test cricket action on Boxing Day to make it all better. Australia handed the visiting Indians an eight wicket hiding in Adelaide and we now move onto Melbourne for the second test of the series.
Setting the Scene
After both teams had their chance at having a bat the visitors were still very much in the game, if not with their noses slightly in front in fact. But a Cummins and Hazlewood masterclass blew the Indians away to seal the deal. To make matters worse for the men from the sub-continent they will go to Melbourne sans their best batsman Kohli as well as missing Mohammed Shami.
The Aussies are likely to still miss David Warner but Burns did show an improvement in Adelaide and as we saw the real edge for the hosts lies with their impressive bowling attack. The MCG usually offers a good balance between bat and ball and should also offer something for the spinners later in the game.
Betolimp Best Bets
Top India 1st Innings Bowler – J Bumrah @ 3.00
I’m sticking with Bumrah in this market. The awkward swing bowler started with a bang in the first innings with the pink ball but couldn’t kick on for us. This time around I am hoping he can get the job done with Shami now also out of the reckoning as competition in this regard.
Top India 1st Innings Batsman – R Pant @ 9.00
There will be calls for changes given the nature of their second innings collapse. We know Kohli will have to be replaced but I foresee the aggressive nature of Pant to be added to the mix as well to add some mongrel to their make-up. I love having a fighter on my side.
Top Australia 1st Innins Batsman – M Wade @ 9.00
Likely to open again in the expected absence of Warner this price just looks too big and I have to follow the value here.
Man of the Match – P Cummins @ 11.00
We can count ourselves a touch unlucky that Pat didn’t deliver the Man of the Mach award for us last time out. He was the pick of the Aussie bowlers in the first innings and it was him who started the dramatic Indian collapse in the second innings disaster for the visitors. Cummins should prove a handful in Melbourne again and there will be some serious mental damage done to those having to face off against Cummins in this second test.
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Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change
Couch Critic
