Betting tips / Editor / 23 December 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Betfair's latest sporting 'catch' to our team of pro-contributors, ex-New Zealand captain Chris Cairns, imagines there will be a degree of trepidation heading into the Boxing Day Test for the current Australian team after their recent loss in Hobart to NZ.

Batting-wise, India possesses a powerful, world-class line-up.

The ball will not move as much as it did in the English summer, which undid the men from the subcontinent, but it will bounce. The Indians have shown they can counter bounce on their previous trips here, but it is the lateral movement which undoes any Indian team.

The Australian batting line-up has both inexperienced and senior players fighting for position.

Not exactly the environment you want heading into a series!

However, with the lack of quality Indian bowling, I feel the Australians are not going to be tested much throughout this series and in fact doubt we will see a change in the batting line-up at all.

Perhaps the only change will occur when Watson becomes fit enough.

With any Test, it is about taking twenty wickets, something India is going to struggle with the entire series. I see a series draw as the best they can hope for and in my mind Australia will be strong favourites.

Having said this, I must reiterate that they will still need much skill in getting past this Indian batting line-up.

It comes down to Australia being bold (as opposed to bowled) and playing the extra bowler, which means an all-rounder at six. Watson is not fit so Dan Christian should get the nod ahead of Ponting or Hussey. If Australia choose six batters and have Hussey as their fifth bowler, they will allow India off the hook.

'Most runs scored' in the series could come from an Indian batsmen as they will have more chances at bat. Laxman is a sound bet for 'top run scorer' and Siddle as 'top wicket taker' because of his strength and fitness to last the series.