Bookmakers have been dominating the headlines lately but it appears they are happy to drift into the darkness as the first Test gets underway in Mohali on Friday.
At the moment many betting agencies have Australia-India at even money with the draw the favoured result.
India are coming off a drawn series against Sri Lanka away while the Aussies will be looking to rebound after a disappointing performance against Pakistan at Headingley.
India have recalled Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan from injury to the squad for the series and handed young batsman Cheteshwar Pujara a place in the squad.
Chances are the senior three members will find a way into the starting line-up.
The middle order is still very strong for the Indians with Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, all still capable of scoring runs and the Australians will have to stifle this lot if they are to get onto in the match.
The Australian side will be similar to the team that played at Headingley.
Nathan Hauritz will return from injury and likely replace young all-rounder Steve Smith.
Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus will lead the attack while the third fast bowling spot is up for grabs. There are concerns over Doug Bollinger’s preparation after his stint in the Champions League and a solid performance from up-and-coming fast bowler Peter George in the tour game.
George bowled well in the first innings when the Aussie quicks steamrolled the President XI’s but struggled like the rest of the bowlers in the second innings.
The Australian batting looks strong with most batsmen getting a decent innings in the tour game and Mike Hussey performing well in the closing stages of the Champions League.
Skipper Ricky Ponting and deputy Michael Clarke are the two who missed out of the batting fest in the tour game but will rise for the occasion in Mohali.
Ponting under pressure over his recent average batting performances will return to battle with nemesis Harbhajan and their battle is sure to be a highlight of the short tour.
Conditions at Mohali will probably mirror the history of the results at the venue.
A large amount of runs are scored here with five of the nine Tests played at the ground ending in draws.
India have won three of the Tests which ended in a result and their last loss at the venue was back in the first Test played there in 1994.
Both Harbhajan and his fellow spinner Amit Mishra average just under five wickets a game at Mohali and appear to be standing between the Australians and a positive result.
India will be looking for a win to maintain their number one ranking in Test cricket while the Aussies are chasing two solid performances in the lead-up to the Ashes.
A draw will be a good result for the Aussies because it will mean they will have avoided a terrible batting collapse that has haunted their cricket in recent times.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
This series’ twelfth and final team has a distinct West Indian flavour at the top of the order, and a domineering captain.
Mitch Marsh has been appointed as Australia's men's Twenty20 captain, set to lead a squad to the World Cup that does not include Steve…
Australia are set to turn their back on rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk’s whirlwind IPL form and drop Steve Smith in their T20 World Cup…
It seems franchise cricket has forgotten about the great battle between bat and ball. In fact, this season in the IPL there is no battle at all.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Test great Steve Smith is to play for Washington Freedom in the second season of Major League Cricket as the Australian influence in the…
