In an era of so much cricket, it is an oddity that the world’s best team have been starved of Test action. Australia have played only 10 matches since January 2007, playing away from home just three times in that period.
This sparse Test schedule is about to get busier, as this clash with India marks the start of a sequence of series against the teams who consider themselves the Aussies’ nearest challengers. Home and away clashes with South Africa precede next year’s Ashes and there is also room for a two Test visit by New Zealand.
Despite England’s Pietersen-induced optimism and the Proteas’ sustained improvement, the quest to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy will surely be their toughest assignment in maintaining their status as unquestionable world number ones.
India gave as good as they got (in every sense) in the bad-tempered clashes downunder earlier this year and were unlucky to lose 2-1. The last four series have all been extremely competitive, with Australia shading the win count six to five.
The hosts will not be overawed by the Baggy Greens, who still appear to be a team in transition, but they have hit a sticky patch at the wrong time. They have won only three of their last 10 Tests and were at times shambolic in losing 2-1 in Sri Lanka recently.
Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis was the main architect of their downfall and it is fair to say that the home batsmen will find it easier to pick the variations of prospective debutants Bryce McGain and Jason Krejza.
The superiority of the home spin attack will prevent a reappearance of the green tops that characterised the Easter series against South Africa and we could be in for a high-scoring series.
Bangalore, venue for the opening Test and Nagpur, where the fourth and final match will be held, have respective first innings average totals of 502 and 422 from their last four Tests. Punters should look to the intervening matches at Mohali and the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi (where India have won their last seven Tests) for decisive results.
The drawn series therefore appeals as a cricket bet at 4.3, as the teams seem well-matched. India have drawn three of their last six home Tests and the Aussies revealed a blunt cutting edge in the Caribbean when confronted with a slow wicket at Antigua.
The recent meetings between these sides have produced some outstanding individual performances and it is the hosts who now possess more match-winners. They trade as slight favourites at 2.44, with Australia available at 2.76, and if there is to be a series winner, I have to agree with the punters who are backing India.
Written by Philip Oliver, a professional sports writer who blogs about cricket betting at the online sports betting blog from Betfair.