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Australia vs India Fifth Test Tips - Trophy in sight for the Aussies

By Sridhar Bhamidi

02 Jan 2025

Sridhar Bhamidi 02 Jan 2025

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Australia vs India Fifth Test match predictions to be played in Sydney from Friday, January 3
Australia drew 4 of their last 6 Tests in Sydney
India drew their last 3 Tests played in Sydney

Can Australia reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by avoiding defeat in Sydney? (Getty Images)

Australia vs India Fifth Test

Australia could confirm their place in the WTC final and also reclaim the Border–Gavaskar Trophy as they take on India in their first Test of the new year, 2025. The hosts have a 2-1 lead coming into this fifth and final Test to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from Friday, January 3.

Australia vs India Fifth Test
Head to Head
Australia Form
Australia Team News
India Form
India Team News
Australia vs India Fifth Test FAQs

A sensational seven-wicket blitz in the final session on the fifth day of the fourth Test gave Australia a deserving 2-1 lead. They are now favourites to reclaim the BGT trophy by avoiding defeat here, although a win would confirm their place in the WTC final. Weather’s always a factor at this venue, which has traditionally been a venue of draws, and I am sticking my neck out to back draw as a result.

Australia drew 4 of their last 6 matches at this venue (Tests)
India drew their last 3 matches at this venue (Tests)
Sydney saw 6 draws in the last 10 New Year matches (Tests)
Nitish Reddy top-scored for India in 4 of their last 8 innings (Tests)

Head to Head

There have been 111 Tests between Australia and India so far, with the Aussies winning 47, the Men in Blue winning 33, and 30 ending in draws. There was also a tied Test between these two modern rivals.

In this series, the first Test was won by India by 295 runs in Perth. Australia responded with an emphatic 10-wicket win in the second Test in Adelaide. The third Test at the Gabba was a drawn one, while the fourth Test ended in a dramatic 184-run victory for the home team.

Australia Form

Australia remains 2nd in the WTC table with 61.46 percentage points. A win here will see them through to the final against South Africa irrespective of the results against Sri Lanka in a two-Test series later this month.

The hosts were boosted by the timely return to form of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, with the former hitting two hundreds and the latter three 50+ scores in the series. Travis Head (410 runs) remains their best batter in the series.

Pat Cummins (20 wickets) has been their mainstay with the ball, while Mitchell Starc (15) has lifted his game at critical moments.

Australia Team News

Mitchell Marsh’s form left hime dry and Australia announced that Beau Webster will debut here. That was mentioned as the only change which meant Starc’s back injury is no longer a concern.

India Form

India remains 3rd in the standings with 52.78 percentage points but has complicated their chances. Anything but a win in Sydney will rule them out of the race for the final. Even a win here will need them to pray that Australia gets no more than two draws in Sri Lanka.

Their chances are ruined by the poor performances from their batters, led by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. As the two stalwarts face question marks over their places in the team, it’s left to Yashasvi Jaiswal (359) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (294) to shore up their batting.

With the ball, it’s Jasprit Bumrah (30 wickets) who’s holding India’s flag high with his performances. He deserves to not lose this series, but support from other bowlers has been poor.

India Team News

Akash Deep has been ruled out with a back injury, which opens the door for either Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna to play. Shubman Gill could slot back, if India decide to go with only two frontline seamers. There are unconfirmed reports of Rishbah Pant being benched in favour of Dhruv Jurel, who has played the first Test of this series as a specialist batter.

Australia vs India Fifth Test FAQs

Where can I watch the Australia vs India Fifth Test live stream?

Our live streaming calendar shows you where to watch the Australia vs India Fifth Test live stream.

What time does Australia vs India Fifth Test start?

This Australia vs India Fifth Test match is being played at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney starting at 5 a.m. IST on Friday, January 3.

Verdict

Australia v India

It has been a topsy-turvy series, and had it not been for an indiscreet last session in Melbourne, the score would have remained 1-1. That said, India looks out of sorts and out of ideas, as they struggle to understand what their best playing XI is. Weather could come to their rescue here, though, as also the history of this venue that favours draws. I am backing a draw in Sydney to end a stunning series.