THE EDGE: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Thursday’s 1st Test between India v Australia with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
MATCH OVERVIEW:
After months of T20 franchise cricket around the world, Test cricket takes the spotlight back as India host Australia. It’s a long series by standards these days, and we’re sure to have four excellent Test matches on BETDAQ Betting Exchange with plenty of trading opportunities. Even before a ball was bowled, T20 cricket has been causing some drama with Cricket Australia flying their players out before the Big Bash playoffs meaning we didn’t see big stars such as Steven Smith and Brisbane Heat lost their best batters Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne.
That will all be forgotten about here – it’s always so difficult to win a Test series in India, it would be an incredible achievement if Australia could manage it. They have a reasonably strong batting line-up on paper, but as we know Australian batters have struggled against spin in India. How they deal with Ashwin, along with the rest of India’s excellent attack, will decide the series. Australia look a little light in the bowling department – Cameron Green is unlikely to play the 1st Test with a fractured finger and the word is Australia will name a specialist batsman at six so that leaves four bowlers. If it’s a flat pitch that could mean a very heavy workload ahead of a long tour.
India won’t be asking the groundsmen for a flat wicket here though. I would expect plenty of spin because that is the way to beat Australia. India have a very dangerous attack, and plenty of talent in the batting department too. In their home conditions they will be very difficult to beat, but we’re set for a fascinating series ahead.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Steven Smith described the wicket as “pretty dry” already a few days before the Test started, so I think it’s safe to assume India want a spinning track here. They won’t want a wicket with pace and bounce looking at the Aussie attack, so the natural wicket is a slow and low one, with plenty of spin to aid India. It will be very interesting to see the team news, because you’ll be able to tell what the teams expect from the wicket by the number of spinners they name in their XI. With Covid19, the last Test in Nagpur was back in 2017 – we’ve only actually had six Tests here but five have been results. The only draw here was when England were playing for their first series win in 28 years and all they needed was a draw.
RECOMMENDED BET:
While I feel this series will be good for trading over the next month or so, it’s hard to see past India for the opening Test. The Aussie players have had a home series and then went straight into the Big Bash, then here. They travelled over with plenty of time, but I still feel it’s not ideal coming to India off the Big Bash. Especially because it seems like we are almost certain of a wicket with plenty of spin which can only favour India. I feel they’ve asked the groundmen for a turning wicket, which takes out the draw option – the market supports that too given the odds really – and India look like a cracking bet at 1.75. I’m sure there will be twists and turns along the way, but it’s India from an outright point of view.
The Edge Says:
Three points win India to beat Australia at 1.75 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/IndAus
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
With so many years to the last Test here, it’s hard to be fully certain of what conditions to expect. You can only go off the vibes from the news and what the players are saying. As I said above, a good tactic is to see how many spinners each sides names as to what they expect from the wicket. Personally, I expect a very spin friendly wicket from what’s been said – and I will be trading with that in mind, once it’s confirmed of course. Batting first could easily provide the best batting conditions of the Test, and if Australia are to have any chance I think they will need to bat first. If India bat I can see a 1.01 train, and if Australia bat first I wouldn’t mind placing a trade on them for the first day and then closing out. The real move will be getting on India’s spinners late in the Test.
