A week removed from a 137-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test, Australia look to close out the series against India with some bragging rights after failing to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Melbourne.
Not for the first time this summer it’s been a controversial week for the Australian selectors. A dreadful 151-run total in the second innings of the Third Test means it’s time for a change, but can the Aussies really limit Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli to win this SCG rubber match?
We’ve gone ahead and previewed everything you need to know ahead of Thursday’s first ball, and our complete Australia vs. India Fourth Test Preview can be found below.
Best Bet: India To Win @ $2.10
We’re told to expect plenty of spin from the SCG wicket, which on one hand could favour Nathan Lyon, but also play into the hands of the Indians.
The visitors are holding out hope that star spinner Ravi Ashwin is fit enough to make the side, and if he does, the Aussies could be in some trouble. Ashwin took six wickets in Adelaide earlier in December, and to make matters worse, the 32-year old snagged five wickets at the SCG back in 2015.
The biggest problem for Australia is undeniably the batting order, which has copped its fair share of flack this week. The addition of Marnus Labuschagne, who has averaged 25-runs in his last 15 first-class innings, makes little to no sense, while it’s hard to hold out hope for anyone outside of Usman Khawaja and Travis Head.
Aaron Finch was a problem as the opener, so it’ll be interesting to see how the 32-year-old performs in the middle order. If the wicket is slow and more suited to spinners like they say it is though, Australia’s aggressive fast-bowling attack could also be a complete non-factor. With India hoping to win its first ever series downunder, all things look in favour of the visitors.
Man of the Match: Virat Kohli @ $6.00
The Indian captain fell 18-runs shy of a century in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test, but as his form has indicated all series, the world’s No.1 batsman always looks capable of hitting a ton.
You don’t have to rewind very far to find Kohli’s last century at the SCG. In 2015 he finished with 147-runs in his first at-bat, most of which, unfortunately, came off Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc. After smashing 123 off 257 balls in Perth, it would only be fitting, and deserving, for Kohli to finish this series as Man of the Match.
Australia Top 1st Innings Wicket Taker: Nathan Lyon @ $4.00
Reshuffling the batting order could play an important part for the Aussies if they are to win the Fourth Test, but let’s face it, the majority of their hopes rely squarely on Nathan Lyon’s shoulders.
In front of his hometown fans at the SCG, all signs point towards Lyon lapping up the slow wicket and returning to form. The 31-year-old took only one wicket in Melbourne, but the good news is he’s taken a combined nine wickets in his last two matches in Sydney.
Cheteshwar Pujara: Under 33.5 First Innings Runs @ $1.83
Pujara has been one tough customer, and he certainly hasn’t been an easy wicket for Australia this series.
Despite his marvelous form in Melbourne however, Pujara has never faced the SCG pitch, and if it’s as unpredictable as it was in Perth, we could see him post a fairly low total. Pujara managed only 24-runs in the first innings and just four in the second, being caught out by Tim Paine on both occasions thanks to the brilliant bowling of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.