The fiercely contested test series between Australia and India is about to come to an end. The four match series is currently tied at 1-1 and the fourth and final test will be the decider. The final test will take place at Brisbane and run from Jan 15 to 19.
India played better than Australia at the SCG as they showed great determination in the second innings to hold Australia to a draw. However, they are still massive underdogs going into the Brisbane test. The bookmakers have India at 5/2 and the chances of a draw at 10/3.
* Odds have been provided by 888sport and are accurate as of 12/01/2021
There are two main reasons why India are such massive underdogs. This first reason is because they have been reeling from injuries during this tour. They went into the third test with a weakened squad and this has been weakened even further with more injuries.
Jasprit Bumrah who is their frontline bowler has been ruled out due to an abdominal injury. Ravindra Jadeja who is their all-rounder has also been ruled out. R Ashwin who is their main spinner is fighting to be fit for the fourth test and so in Hanuma Vihari who helped save the third test.
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The Brisbane pitch is a fast bowlers paradise and India do not have even one of their main fast bowlers as Bumrah, Shami and Yadav are all out. India will play an in-experienced seam attack with Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini and T Natarajan.
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The second reason why India are huge underdogs and Australia are the betting favourites is because Australia have not lost at Brisbane in the last 32 years. Australia go in with 4/9 betting odds and will be keen to win and regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
While things clearly favour Australia in the fourth test, there are some chinks in their armour that India can exploit. The Australian fast bowling unit is at full strength but they will definitely be tired after bowling over 130 overs in the fourth and fifth day of the Sydney test.
India will ideally like to win the toss at Brisbane, put Australia into bat and then get them out for below 200. They will then need to play really well in the first innings and make the pacers toil for four sessions or more.
If India end up batting first, they need to do the same thing and make a total in excess of 300. If they can, India might pull of another surprise and keep the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
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