Australia v India: 4th Test preview

Australia and India have shared a win apiece and a draw in the first three games of the five-game series between the two and now travel to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Boxing Day Test.

India were dominant in the first Test, with an eight-wicket haul for Jasprit Bumrah helping skittle the hosts for totals of 104 and 238.

Australia bounced back with a victory in the Day-Night Test in Adelaide, spurred on by a knock of 140 by Travis Head.

The weather intervened in the third Test, with Travis Head and Steve Smith starring with the bat before a top-order collapse in the second innings led to an early declaration to try and put the pressure on India before the time ran out.

Now they clash once again in Melbourne looking to settle the series.

Australia v India 4th Test betting preview

McSweeney misses out for hosts

The Australian selectors have made the decision to move away from Nathan McSweeney as their opener in this Test series against India after five scores of ten or fewer from his first six innings.

19-year-old Sam Konstas is on the brink of becoming Australia’s youngest debutant since 1953 after impressing in the Sheffield Shield, he is 10.00 to be his the top first innings scorer on debut.

Despite their struggles in the top order, Marnus Labuschagne in particular has come under pressure after scores of 1, 2, 3, 64 and 12 in the series, Australia remain favoured at 1.61 to win this third Test.

Laubaschagne himself is 9.50 to bounce back and be the first innings top scorer after a number of single-figure knocks.

India looking to rally despite Ashwin’s retirement

India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement with immediate effect after the Brisbane Test; he had not featured in that game but had taken figures of 1-53 in Adelaide.

The team will be hoping that his shock announcement can galvanise the team to success in the fourth Test, where they are 2.87 to get the win.

Jasprit Bumrah has undoubtedly been the star of the series for the visitors, taking 21 wickets for his team in what has essentially only been five innings of work.

He has in particular wreaked havoc for the Australian top order and has caused the likes of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne a number of issues.

He is 4.00 to be the top bowler in the first innings and 8.00 to be Player of the Match.

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Australia v India odds

Australia - 1.61
Draw - 11.00
India - 2.87

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.