Australia v India second Test odds and betting (January 2, 2008)

Test previews / Editor / 01 January 2008 / Leave a Comment

After such a comprehensive win in the first Test against the tourists, Australia will be hard to oppose even at short odds in the betting to secure a landmark win in the second Test which gets underway in Sydney on Wednesday.

Australia secured a 337-run win in the MCG opener to land plenty of bets as the normally reliable Indian batting line up offered little resistance, and the world's number-one side will be short odds in the betting to gain another win and in doing so make it a record-equalling 16 Test victories in a row.

Ricky Ponting is well aware of the milestone but has already warned his players that they must remain focused if they are going to better the feat achieved by Steve Waugh's 2001 vintage.

However, on a personal level the Australia skipper will want to bounce back after a disappointing showing in the opening match when he managed scores of just 4 and 3. Given his overall average of 48.46 against India which has included two hundreds and two double hundreds many would not bet against him to put together a descent score in Sydney.

Ponting's opposite number Anil Kumble was understandably downbeat after the Melbourne match despite his own impressive showing with the ball as he claimed five-wickets in the first innings. Many looking to land bets on the Indians at longer odds will be well aware that the spinner will have to play a key part again if they are to bounce back and level the series.

However, if the tourists are to give the Aussies a better game in the second game of this four-match series then Kumble and Co will know it is their batting that needs to be improved.

With only Sachin Tendulkar making it past 50 in either innings of the series opener the likes of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly will all be keen to up their performances to ensure that India are not humiliated again.

Whatever the outcome it promises to be another captivating contest between the two top Test playing nations with plenty of betting opportunities to add some spice for the neutrals.

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