2024 Australia vs India: 3rd Test

It takes a big man to admit when they are wrong and I am the biggest of men.

I went against everything I wanted to do, I was pessimistic, I was pissed off with the team I love and I backed India to win the second test.

Guess what, I was wrong and I’ve never been happier about it.

The Aussies put on a show in Adelaide, Mitchell Starc did exactly what we expect him to do with the pink ball, Travis Head was once again huge on his home ground and we now head to Brisbane a lot more excited about this Australian team.

This series is really starting to heat up, we’ve got villians like Siraj getting under everyone’s skin and we’ve got a handful of Aussie boys that have finally stood up.

If the weather holds off this weekend, we could be in for a very dramatic Test Match.

There is plenty of rain forecast for Brisbane this weekend which concerns me but we will definetly see a heap of action in this third test.

I’ve run my eyes over the markets, flicked through the Wisdens, checked the BOM and put together my thoughts on this test just for you punters.

Here is my preview of the Third Test between Australia and India.

My Predicted Australia XI

• U. Kwahaja
• N. McSweeney
• M. Labuschagne
• S. Smith
• T. Head
• M. Marsh
• A. Carey (WK)
• P. Cummins (C)
• M. Starc
• N. Lyon
• J. Hazelwood

Lets start with our batting order shall we?

Usman and McSweeney continue as our openers, they were sent in at a bloody tough time to bat in Adelaide and McSweeney was massive for the Aussies.

It was an incredibly gritty knock to hold out Bumrah in the last session of Day 1, facing about 80 odd deliveries in that last session and put his side in a very good spot to launch on Day 2.

Would it have been nice if he had converted his start? Of course but he did his job perfectly and big scores will come for the young man if he continues to improve.

Marnus’ with his 64 played another crucial role for our boys, would I say he’s back?

Not quite but he certainly did enough for the selectors and general public to restore some faith in his abilities.

What we need from Marnus now is consistency, that number three spot is so important and another strong showing is required from the big Queenslander at home this weekend to properly cement himself as our number three for the rest of the series.

A failure at the Gabba and he could be dropped for Boxing Day.

Has Steve Smith lost it? I don’t think so but Smithy is our bat with the most pressure heading into Brisbane.

It feels like an eternity since we’ve seen our best since Bradman inflict some serious hurt in the long form game and you’d imagine another failure to launch in Brisbane will see the angry mob grow more and more.

The rest of the team picks itself at the moment. The only change I expect is Josh Hazelwood to replace Scott Boland if he’s cleared of his injury.

Other than that we’re ready to rip in.

Results Markets

Rain is forecast for all five days of this Test Match but not enough rain to see us not get a result I believe.

The draw is $11.50 and at this point in time I don’t believe is a chance.

SEQ is very good for an afternoon thunderstorm this time of year but we should HOPEFULLY only see a handful of light showers across the five days.

The Aussies are $1.57 favourites at fortress Gabba.

Is it still a fortress given we lost to the Windies here last summer and India last time out beat us as well? I still say yes.

The Brisbane conditions suit our boys very well and if the team that rocked up to Adelaide, rock up to Brisbane.

We won’t see the red ball swing around corners like Starc and Bumrah had it doing but there is certainly enough in this Brisbane deck for both sides of the ball to sink their teeth into.

We also will not see playing conditions like we saw against South Africa two summers ago.

An Australian win is where I see this going.

Australia to Win @ $1.57

Run Scorer Markets

Is Travis Head the only Australian you can back with confidence in this market? I lean towards yes.

It’s been an incredibly dominate 18 months for our number five and he’ll be raring to go after another very impressive game in Adelaide.

Head is good value at $5.00 in this market and we’ve seen him really destroy teams by himself in Brisbane, with a century in a session against England a famous memory (I was there).

It’s hardly his best hunting ground, Head averages 50.28 with just that one Ashes hundred to his name in Brisbane but the lack of quality around him just nudges me towards his name in this market.

As much shit as I’ve thrown on him, I wouldn’t hate the idea of hedging here and backing Marnus Labuschagne too.

Out of runs at the moment, yes but the Big Marn still averages 62.12 at the Gabba and has a point to prove.

There’s nothing like a hometown hundred and Marnus has two of them, could we see a third here?

Travis Head Top Australian First Innings Runscorer @ $5.00

Marnus Labuschagne Top Australian First Innings Runscorer @ $5.75

Wicket Taker Markets

Mitchell Starc is the form man this summer but I will be taking Pat Cummins for top wicket taker in Brisbane.

Cummins has 40 of his 279 test wickets at the Gabba with three five wicket hauls and his best ever bowling figures of 6/23.

Cumdog’s average of 18.22 at the Gabba is simply too hard to ignore, I wanted to take Starcy here but bit of pub ammo for you, Starc has never taken a five wicket haul in Brisbane.

It’s been a quiet start to the summer for Cummins’ standards but he loves Brisbane and Brisbane loves him.

He’s the $3.20 favourite for a reason.

I’m not going on a spiel about the Indians here, just back Bumrah.

Pat Cummins Top Australian First Innings Wicket Taker @ $3.20

Jasprit Bumrah Top Indian First Innings Wicket Taker @ $2.80