India worth backing to claim overdue series win in Australia

First Test
BT Sport 2, Wednesday midnight

Much has changed since Australia last played a Test match on home soil in January.

Back then the Aussies were basking in the glory of a dominant 4-0 Ashes series win but that was to the sole high of an unforgettable 2018 that yielded only one more win, four heavy defeats and a ball-tampering scandal which is still rumbling on.

The three players banned for their part in that controversy - Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft - failed in their bid to overturn the bans imposed on them by Cricket Australia. Smith and Warner, in particular, are big losses for the Aussies on their winter assignment against the world's number one team, India.

The Indians have played down their chances of claiming a first series win down under but given the negative atmosphere surrounding Australian cricket and the fact that they are playing a weaker home side than normal, they have a great chance of ending that barren run.

Virat Kohli leads a well-rounded touring party who sauntered past the West Indies in October and were unlucky to be beaten 3-1 by England in the summer. Were it not for some important contributions from the Three Lions' lower-order at pivotal moments in the series, the scoreline could have had a different complexion.

India have a stronger seam attack than has previously been the case, with each bowler offering something different while their batting unit, led by the inimitable Kohli, is superb when on song.

On their bouncy homeland pitches Australia's firebrand attack will test their opponents. But should they stand tall, India could finally break their hoodoo.

Recommendation
India to win series draw no bet
2pts Evs general

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