WTC Final 2023: Australia v India betting tips & best odds

2023 WTC Final predictions & best bets

Australia v India WTC Final preview

The second edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) will be decided in London this week as Australia take on India at The Oval, kicking off this Wednesday.

The Aussies will be looking to turn the tide after four consecutive series defeats in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, most recently losing 2-1 on the subcontinent earlier this year.

Todd Murphy was one of the success stories to come out of that tour, and the selectors have rewarded the rookie spinner with a spot in the squad for this week’s final.

Fellow tweaker Matt Kuhnemann has not been so lucky, dropped along with batters Peter Handscomb and Matt Renshaw as the Australians look towards the upcoming Ashes series.

Opening bat Marcus Harris and swing bowler Michael Neser have been recalled on the back of some promising red-ball form in the County Championship, while Josh Hazlewood sits out as he recovers from an Achilles injury.

Also in the squad is veteran opener David Warner, who recently announced his plans to retire from international cricket at the end of the Australian summer.

India have made some changes as well, with Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav dropping out of the batting lineup to make room for the experienced Ajinkya Rahane.

Rohit Sharma’s side also features an extra seam-up option with Shardul Thakur named alongside Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat.

Australia v India WTC Final betting strategy

On the surface, the conditions should suit Australia better. They have played more Test cricket there, and they are more acclimatised to seam-friendly pitches.

However, The Oval has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for the green and gold. In 38 Ashes Tests at the Surrey venue, they have won only seven times.

India’s record at the ground is no better – two wins from 14 attempts – but that isn’t the interesting stat.

The Oval is typically something of a batter’s paradise, which means high innings totals and a lot of matches ending in draws.

While neither side has a winning record at the ground, the win-draw-loss lines for both Australia (7-14-17) and India (2-7-5) suggest they are less likely to lose there than to secure a result of some description.

Granted, Australia usually play The Oval at the end of the Ashes, meaning the early-summer conditions on offer here could make batting a little tougher than usual.

Even so, the draw is very much in play and the $5.60 on offer at Marantelli Bet looks a smidge over the odds.

Australia v India WTC Final top batsman tip

It should surprise nobody that Steve Smith is head and shoulders above any other batter on either team when it comes to runs scored at The Oval.

In the three Test matches at the venue, the Aussie star has piled on 391 runs at 97.75 across five innings – including two centuries and an 80.

While Smith doesn’t bring the greatest red-ball form into this match – he failed to pass 40 in four Tests on the tour of India earlier this year – that only means he will have more to prove as he gears up for what is a hotly anticipated Ashes series.

Most of the best cricket bookmakers will have him as the favourite to top score in Australia’s first innings, but anything over $3.50 is still decent value.

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