Here is a look at the week ahead in international cricket featuring the Test matches that see India host Australia in their fourth Test and England taking on Bangladesh in a quick T20I series.
Here is a look at some of the games with odds from BetXchange.
Australia VS India (4th Test) – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
When: Thursday, March 9 – Monday, March 13
Australia kept their series hopes alive with a nine-wicket win in the 3rd Test in Indore. The Aussies can’t win the series – India’s wins in the first two Tests saw to that – but battling back for a 2-2 draw after being 2-0 down would give the tourists a huge boost heading into their three ODIs later this month.
The win was Australia’s first Test win in India in six years and the first by any team visiting the country since 2021. It also qualified the Aussies for the 2021-2023 ICC World Test Championship Final, where they are (ironically) likely to face India again.
It was a low-scoring match, with India making under 275 runs across both innings. Matthew Kuhnemann took 5/16 in the first innings, while Nathan Lyon bowled a ridiculous 8/63 from his 23.3 overs in the second Indian innings.
This has been a fascinating series. India has their made-to-order pitches to emphasize their spin power. They didn’t bank on Australia countering with a spin of their own to this level, such that Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara have been the only batters to break 50 in the series. This could go either way, so maybe hedge and take Australia, as they are the underdogs in what should be a close match.
New Zealand VS Sri Lanka (1st Test) – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
When: Thursday, March 9 – Monday, March 13
Sri Lanka has approached this match with the care and preparation you would expect from a team that still has designs for making it to the WTC Final against Australia. A New Zealand squad that has obliterated the Sri Lankans twice at Hadley Oeal in the last decade is standing in their way, with their wins in 2014 and 2018 keyed by their pace attack.
Expect New Zealand to fall back on their pace attack again here. There is enough inexperience in the Sri Lankan attack that the foursome of Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, and Blair Tickner should be able to get on top of them early. If they can do damage early – the wicket of Angelo Matthews and how long it takes to fall will be massive – then I think the hosts win this at a canter.
Bangladesh VS England (1st T20I) – Zohut Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
When: Thursday, March 9
Bangladesh made this white ball matchup more interesting by beating England in the third ODI last time. Their 50-run win had zero impact on the series – England won matches one and two by three wickets and 132 runs, respectively – but it finally allowed the hosts to show some form.
Bangladesh has solid form at home in limited-overs cricket. The problem is that England is both high on confidence and very effective. They will attack, and they will attack hard. I like England to win and for Jos Buttler to be Man of the Match at 13/2
