Australia vs India Preview: Team News & Prediction | 5th Test
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The Boxing Day Test was every bit as thrilling as expected, with Australia coming out on top late on Day 5, taking a 2-1 series lead ahead of the fifth and final Test at the SCG.
Date/Time: Thursday January 2nd 2025: US PST – 3:30pm / US EST – 6:30pm / UK – 11:30pm
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia
Weather: Heavy rain could disrupt Day 5, but the first four days are expected to be totally dry with bright sunshine on Days 2, 3 and 4 and temperatures well over 20c throughout.
How To Watch On TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Willow TV
How To Watch Online: UK – discovery+ / US – Willow TV
Australia Team News
The Australian selectors made a massive move ahead of the fourth Test, dropping opener Nathan McSweeney for Sam Konstas and the decision paid off big time, with 19-year-old Konstas recording an extraordinary maidan Test innings of 60, his ramp shots in particular thrilling the packed MCG crowd. Perhaps his performance has spurred the selectors into another big call heading into the fifth Test.
That call is the dropping of Mitchell Marsh, with Tasmania all-rounder Beau Webster in line to make his Test debut. Marsh has struggled with the bat across the series and like McSweeney, is set to pay the price. In the bowling department, Scott Boland is expected to retain his place with Josh Hazlewood out injured.
Predicted line-up: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India Team News
The big news surrounding India leading into the fifth Test has been regarding whether captain Rohit Sharma’s place is in question. Since joining up the squad from the second Test onwards with India leading the series 0-1, Rohit has endured a terrible run with the bat and head coach Gautam Gambhir was non-committal when asked if his skipper’s place in the side was secure.
It would be a seismic move to drop Rohit, despite him averaging only 6.20 over the course of this series so far. But with Shubman Gill no doubt desperate for a recall after having been left out of the XI in Melbourne, the logical move would be replacing Rohit if Gill was to come back in and promoting vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah as they did in the first Test . Meanwhile, a back injury will likely sideline Akash Deep, potentially handing Harshit Rana an opportunity.
Predicted line-up: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah (c), Mohammed Siraj
Australia Betting Analysis
It’s hard to look beyond Sam Konstas when analysing the Australian team after the Boxing Day following that unforgettable Day 1 innings. Konstas’ aggression and fearlessness was so eye-catching and his ability to accumulate runs quickly is something bettors can capitalise on, particularly via the ‘Race to 10 Runs’ market. Back Konstas to reach the 10-run mark faster than Khawaja and also consider a stake in the young star to register over 55.5 total match runs.
India Betting Analysis
India’s top order has been propped up almost single-handedly by Yashasvi Jaiswal over the course of this series so far. With 359 runs across eight innings at an average of 51.28, no Indian player boasts more runs than the 23-year-old opener, who fought a lone hand to try and save the fourth Test on Day 5, ultimately falling short after being dismissed on 84 from 208 balls. Jaiswal has passed fifty in an innings on three occasions so far and he’s well worth backing to do the same for a fourth time here.
Australia vs India Expert Prediction
Australia’s batting has been more reliable than India’s as this series has gone on and ultimately looks like it will be the deciding factor in determining the destination of the Border-Gavaskar trophy. The hosts have improved vastly since that defeat in Perth and victories by both ten wickets in Adelaide and 184 runs at the MCG is testament to that, with a rain-affected draw in Brisbane sandwiched in between.
When factoring in the lack of runs being recorded by the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, not to mention the totally out-of-form Rohit, it’s difficult to see India getting the runs required to force the win they need here. Australia boasts all the momentum and whilst the brilliant Jasprit Bumrah remains a significant wicket-taking threat with the ball, Pat Cummins’ side should wear India down through their ability to accumulate quick runs and that should play a major part of them winning the fifth Test.
Australia vs India Tip: Australia to win
