Steve Smith
Steve Smith

Australia v India T20I preview free betting tips, odds and TV channels


Richard Mann previews the final game in the T20 series between Australia and India, which takes place on Wednesday morning.

Recommended bets

3pts India to beat Australia at 6/4

2pts Faf du Plessis top South Africa batsman at 7/2


Australia v India ODI
Wednesday (0340 BST)
BT Sport

Just a few hours later, Australia will bid to complete a series whitewash over India having triumphed in the first two ODI's played in Sydney.

The hosts' batting really shone in those two matches, with a pair of hundreds from Steve Smith powering his side to mammoth scores of 374-6 and 389-4 respectively. He has been ably supported by Glenn Maxwell and Marnus Labuschagne but with Marcus Stoinis picking up an injury in the series opener, followed by David Warner a few days later, the batting suddenly looks very reliant on Smith and Labuschagne.

Steve Smith

Of course, that pair could well do the bulk of the scoring again, but that is no guarantee and I'll be very surprised if the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami don't hit their straps sooner rather than later. Both are excellent bowlers, particularly in this format, and won't stay quiet for long.

Arguably the biggest disappointment for India has been the performances of leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, consistently brilliant at the recent IPL but yet to find the same assistance from these Australian pitches. Crucially for Chahal, he has found himself brought into the attack against set batsmen who have had the confidence and freedom to target India's spinner.

That might not be the case should India make early inroads on Wednesday, something that appears more likely against Australia's re-jigged batting line-up, and I think the tourists can turn the tables in the series finale.

India's batting has remained impressive - even in the face of such huge scores to chase and with no Rohit Sharma at the top of the order - and totals of 308-8 and 338-9 confirms the likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya can give the hosts plenty to worry about.

Furthermore, Australia's decision to rest Pat Cummins for the final match and the subsequent T20I series will have been welcome news for the India camp who will have also noted the struggles of fellow paceman Mitchell Starc so far this summer.

All in all, Australia's starting XI will have a markedly different make up to the side that has played so well in the first two matches and with India's batting already showing plenty of muscle, I think the 6-4 offered about the tourists on Wednesday is too big to ignore.

South Africa v England T20I
Tuesday (1600 BST)
Sky Sports Cricket

In the batting department at least, this series always promised to be something of a mismatch and though South Africa have fought hard, they have ultimately been outgunned in the first two T20 matches of their international summer.

The series finale takes place in Cape Town on Tuesday before attention turns to the ODI leg of England's tour and it is no surprise that the tourists have hardened in the betting for this one - England now chalked up at 1/2 with Sky Bet.

I'd expect them to prove too strong once again, but South Africa might feel they should have at least won one of those two matches having appeared to have England cornered until first Jonny Bairstow and then Dawid Malan produced well-calculated run chases.

Jonny Bairstow goes on the attack

Therein lays the problem for South Africa: England's batting depth is such, that even when the likes of Jos Buttler and Jason Roy don't fire, there is always a Bairstow, a Malan or an Eoin Morgan to get you. Throw Ben Stokes into the mix, along with any number of fine players waiting in the wings, and this is a seriously strong batting group.

I'm yet to be convinced that number six is the right fit for Morgan - he looks at least a spot too low in the order - but other than that, England have answered a few questions about their best T20 batting line-up in the last few days and Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid continue to lead the bowling attack well.

Mark Wood really ought to get a game here but for a bet, I'm looking towards the home camp with Faf du Plessis fancied to claim top South Africa batsman honours.

Du Plessis did these pages a favour when obliging in the same market on Friday night, batting beautifully for his 58, and he again looked in good touch on Sunday having surprisingly been shunted down to number four. That's a mistake I don't expect South Africa to make twice and given the form du Plessis has displayed since stepping down as national captain earlier in the year - most notably in the Indian Premier League recently - I'm happy to stick with him.

Quinton de Kock remains the obvious danger following a pair of promising starts so far in the series, but there isn't much else to fear and the market still underestimates du Plessis who rates a bet again at 7/2.

Posted at 1425 BST on 30/11/20


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