Dean Etheridge
The 3rd Test between India and Australia starts on Wednesday, and after what has been a poor showing from the Aussies to date, the visitors will be looking for an improvement when the match from Indore starts. India are favorites to win again. So can they make it 3-0? Let’s take a look with our free cricket betting picks.
- What; 3rd Test
- Who; India vs Australia
- Where; Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, India
- When; Wednesday, March 1st – Sunday, March 5th (five day match)
India vs Australia; Betting to win the 3rd Test
After comprehensive wins in the first two Tests of the series, it’s fairly obvious that India are going to be the favorites. To win the 3rd Test, India is -260 on the moneyline. Australia is +425 to win, with the draw at +600.
The above odds are from BetOnline, you can read more about them in our BetOnline review. Below, we’ve gathered the odds from more top cricket betting sites and added them to our odds table.
| Ind vs Aus 3rd Test Match Betting |  |  |  |
| India | -260 | -250 | -250 |
| Australia | +425 | +425 | +450 |
| Draw | +600 | +600 | +550 |
What’s at stake?
Apart from the four match Test series, in which India already has an unassailable 2-0 lead, both these sides are trying to qualify for the World Test Championship final in England later this year. For Australia, in order to achieve that, they need to avoid a whitewash. If they do lose the series 4-0, they are relying on results elsewhere. Although to deny the Aussies a place in the final, it would require Sri Lanka to win 2-0 away in New Zealand later in March, which will be a big ask.
As for India, a win from either the 3rd or 4th Test matches will see them reach their second World Test Championship final. But the hosts will no doubt want to get the job completed at the first time of asking. And this could spell trouble for Australia.
Disappointing Australia
So far the tour has been a bit of a disaster for Australia. With only half the series complete, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is remaining with India. As the current holders, a drawn series sees India retain the trophy. And with a 2-0 lead, and only two Tests remaining, a drawn series is the worst result India can now achieve.
India has retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy. pic.twitter.com/hCupttXfcJ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 19, 2023
But the hosts will be looking for more than a shared series from here. India are virtually unbeatable at home, and when in this situation, they tend to cash in on home advantage and put visiting sides to the sword.
To put it bluntly, it’s going to take a huge turnaround in form for the Aussies to draw the series from here.
To make matters worse for Australia, they are now without Test captain Pat Cummins who has had to leave the tour and return home for family reasons. As one of the top bowlers in the world, Cummins will obviously be missed. But in Indian conditions, the role of pace bowlers isn’t as crucial, and Australia has Mitchell Starc available now. So the loss of Cummins will be less of a blow.
Batting Collapses are costing Australia
Where Australia do need to improve is with the bat in hand. Twice now, the Aussies have capitulated when things got tough. In the 1st Test they were bowled out for 91 in their 2nd innings, and then in the 2nd Test they went from 85/3 to 113 all out, also in their 2nd innings.
And it’s the 2nd Test in Delhi that would have really hurt the Aussies, as they were well in that game. In the 1st Innings of that match the Aussies had India in trouble when the hosts were 139/7 (in reply to Australia’s 263). The hosts let India off the hook and they recovered to reach 262.
Then in their second innings, Australia lost 8 wickets for 28 runs, when trying to post a total for India to chase to win the match. And it’s how, or if, Australia bounce back from that crushing defeat, that will go a long way to determining how the 3rd Test match goes.
Our Picks
We don’t think Australia will bounce back. They showed in the 2nd Test that they can compete, and they seem to have accepted that their batters were a bit too over dependant on the sweep shot in Delhi – which in turn led to their downfall. This may mean a rethink in tactics from the batters, but it’s a touch too late now .They can’t win the series, and this should have all been planned for well in advance.
A rethink at this stage of the series also suggests that minds have become scrambled. And this is most likely 100% the case. The Aussies are on the ropes, there for the taking. It’s hard to see how they recover from this.
The only real question is, does India represent good value to win at -260? We think they will win, and it’s a safe bet.
But if you’re after an alternative cricket betting picks, take a look at Indian spinners Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin in the Player of the Match betting market.
Patel has had a quiet series so far, playing back up to Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. But with the Aussie batters struggling to play spin, more spin friendly wickets will be prepared, and Patel could yet make a significant contribution. Patel is +850 to be Player of the Match, Ashwin is +600. A wager on either or both is well worthwhile.
