Australia vs India Preview: Team News & Prediction | 3rd Test
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Australia maintained their formidable pink ball record in Adelaide to level the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India at 1-1, but this third Test at the Gabba could be affected significantly by bad weather.
Date/Time: Friday December 13th 2024: US PST – 4:20pm / US EST – 7:20pm / Saturday December 14th 2024: UK – 12:20am
Venue: Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane, Australia
Weather: A significant chance of thundery showers disrupting play across all five scheduled days, as temperatures fluctuate from the mid-to-late twenties.
How To Watch On TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Willow TV
How To Watch Online: UK – discovery+ / US – Willow TV
Australia Team News
After missing the second Test through injury, Australia are giving bowler Josh Hazlewood as much time as possible to prove his fitness and are likely to make a late call on the 33-year-old. Should Hazlewood be passed fit to play, then Scott Boland is expected to make way.
Aside from that, the same team is expected with the core batting line-up set to be unchanged once again. That means another opportunity for opener Nathan McSweeney alongside Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.
Predicted line-up: Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
India Team News
After coming back into the team for the second Test, captain Rohit Sharma opted to bat at number six. However, following two single-figure innings it would be no surprise if he reverted back up the order for this one, with KL Rahul likely to move back into the middle order.
Washington Sundar could come back into the starting line-up after Ravichandran Ashwin was picked over him in Adelaide, whilst pace bowler Akash Deep may be in line for a recall as well after Harshit Rana failed to pick up a wicket in the second Test.
Predicted line-up: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Australia Betting Analysis
When taking into account the extra bounce you can often find in Adelaide along with the poor weather forecast, a fast bowler like Pat Cummins could well come into his own. The Australian captain was critical to his side’s success last time out with a five-wicket-haul across India’s second innings. Cummins’ experience speaks for itself and conditions should really suit him here. Consider backing the host skipper to acquire another 5+ scalps in this one via the ‘Bowler Milestones’ market.
India Betting Analysis
Across the entire series so far, pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been absolutely brilliant for India and the same level of performance from him will be needed in Adelaide. The tourists’ ace in their bowling pack, Bumrah has accumulated 12 wickets over the course of two Test matches, including five and four-wicket hauls respectively. On a damp pitch with cloudy skies, Bumrah’s skills should serve as a formidable challenge for Australia’s batters, so back him to continue his good form with over 5.5 total match wickets.
Australia vs India Expert Prediction
The scheduled forecast as it stands makes this third Test very difficult to predict. The reality is that we may lose significant overs within the five allocated days of play. Therefore, consider an alternative betting option as opposed to backing an outright winner in Brisbane. Instead, focus on individuals and specifically the speedster that is Bumrah. The number of wickets he has taken so far in Australia leads us to believe that more success is just around the corner for him and so backing India’s big star with the ball to finish as the top first innings bowler is well worth moving on.
Australia vs India Tip: Top 1st Innings Bowler - Jasprit Bumrah
