Oz punters back India to dethrone Aussies as world cricket champs

Ahead of this months Test series between India and Australia, Aussie bookies have put their bets on India saying that the Aussies are set to lose their World Champions status.

Sydney, Sept 16 : Ahead of this month's Test series between India and Australia, Aussie bookies have put their bets on India saying that the Aussies are set to lose their World Champions status.

India were listed as the 2.25 dollars favourites with Lasseters Sports before one leading cricket punter unloaded a 6000-dollar bet on the Indians. "That forced their price into 2 dollars with Australia at 2.65 dollars and a drawn series at 4.25 dollars", reported foxsports.com.au

"There are a lot of question marks over several of the Australia team for this series and it appears punters do not want a bar of them," Lasseters head bookie Gerard Daffy said.

History suggests India will be hard to toss at home given Australia's 2004 Test series win in India was their first there in 35 years. Besides, there are also major question marks hanging over the Australians, including how they will fare in the toughest tour in world cricket without a proven international spinner, added the report.

Andrew Symonds' cricketing exile is also a big blow for the Australians who will now look to Shane Watson to step up to the mantle as the team's No. 1 all-rounder. But, the fact that Watson has a long track record with injuries is a concern as Australia has not named a back-up all-rounder. There are also fitness queries over opener Matthew Hayden (ankle) and skipper Ricky Ponting (wrist), and spearhead Brett Lee will have to overcome the mental anguish of the recent breakdown of his marriage.

Despite bomb blasts in New Delhi killing more than 20 people on the weekend, Australia are almost certain to push ahead with the tour. New Delhi is due to host the third Test from October 29 in the Border-Gavaskar series which starts on October 9 in Bangalore.

"It looks like the security advice we are getting hasn't changed and is not likely to change. Unless something unexpected happens, or we receive different advice, we will be pushing ahead with our tour plans," a Cricket Australia spokesman said.

ANI