Cricket: 2nd T20 International – Australia v India Odds and Betting Preview

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – The MCG plays host to the second and final Twenty20 International between Australia and India. The home side crushed the men from the sub-continent by 31 runs at Stadium Australia on Wednesday evening and will hope their superb summer continues today. The pitch in Melbourne should be a very good batting track and the Indians will hope some of their star men can finally find some form with bat in hand.

Australia eased past India to record a comfortable win in the opening T20 match and they can be backed at a standout 8/13 price with Blue Square today (bet £13 to make £8 profit). India need to perform better to avoid a second whitewash on this tour of Australia and the visitors are quoted at 6/4 with bet365.

Wednesday night’s game was the perfect introduction to international cricket for Australia’s new T20 skipper George Bailey who looked confident as he led the side to an impressive victory. He was given a helping hand from some of the more experienced members of the side as Brett Lee, Brad Hogg and David Hussey tore through a weak Indian batting line-up. Matthew Wade produced a man-of-the-match performance with the bat and the wicket-keeper/opener will want to build on that as he bids to cement his place in the side ahead of the experienced Brad Haddin.

India looked out of sorts in Sydney in a format of the game they have huge amounts of experience playing in, ever since the creation of the lucrative IPL competition. India have lost 13 of the 23 Twenty20 matches since October 2007 and in this period they have lost all three of their clashes against the Aussies and it would take a miracle for them to end this run today. The selectors introduced many younger faces into the side for the first T20 but these players failed and the team were saved from an embarrassing defeat thanks to a 48 run cameo innings from their skipper MS Dhoni.

In the Top Australia Batsman betting David Warner is a 3/1 chance with Ladbrokes while Shaun Marsh is quoted at 4/1 with most firms. The star from Sydney, Matthew Wade is available at 9/2 with sportingbet alongside Travis Birt at that same price. The experienced David Hussey is a Melbourne local and punters can back him at a standout 5/1 with bet365 in this market. Hussey contributed with 42 runs in Wednesday’s game and he will relish a packed house at the MCG.

Virender Sehwag has once again been installed at the head of the Top India Batsman market and he is quoted at 15/4 with Blue Square. His fellow experienced opener Gautham Gambhir is a 4/1 chance with the same firm but the pair have failed on this tour and will need to perform today to show that they can still compete at the highest level. Virat Kohli can also be backed at 4/1 with sportingbet while Parthiv Patel is a 5/1 shot at Boylesports. Rohit Sharma was forced to watch his side get thrashed in the Test series and was given his opportunity on Wednesday only to get out for a golden duck and he will be eager to perform in today's game for which he is priced up at 6/1 with Ladbrokes.

The spectators in Sydney were amazed by some superb switch-hitting from David Warner and the Australian opener will want to continue in the same vein again despite the long boundaries at the MCG. Australia belted nine deliveries out of the park at Stadium Australia and have been priced up as the 10/11 favourites in the Most Sixes betting for Friday’s game. India relied heavily on their skipper MS Dhoni to hit three maximums in his quick-fire innings and they are available at 2/1 with Stan James today with a draw in this market quoted at 13/2 with bet365.

Play begins at 08.35 GMT on Friday 3rd February and all the action is broadcast live on Sky Sports 2.

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Australia v India – Top India Batsman Odds
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