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Australia embark on cricket's version of mission impossible Thursday when they attempt to win their first Test series on Indian soil since 2004.

The four Test series, which begins in Pune, shapes as a clash of the two best Test sides in the world, with India heavily favoured at $1.14 (AUD) to maintain their recent dominance over Australia on their home patch, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

Australia have lost seven consecutive Tests in India and haven't won one since the 2004 series, which is their only series victory in India since 1969.

With that level of history against them, it is little wonder they are $12 to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy they won two years ago when India toured Australia and lost 2-0.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, with Australia revamping their side at the start of this summer after a disastrous series against South Africa.

Rejuvenated by new faces such as Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, the Aussies cruised to a 3-0 Test series win over Pakistan to gain some much-needed confidence. But this shapes as a much tougher challenge.

The MCA ground at Pune is hosting its first-ever Test, but it is expected to present a typical five-day Indian pitch with plenty on offer for the batsmen.

India boast the two leading Test bowlers in the world at the moment in spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and the conditions should suit them.

Skipper Steve Smith is renowned as one of the finer players of spin in the world, and his performance will be crucial if Australia are going to avoid the collapses that blighted them last tour in 2013, when they lost 4-0.

Smith is the top-ranked batsmen in the world, but Indian superstar and current No. 2 Virat Kohli, who averages above 86 in the past six months, would love to take that title away from him during this series.

Kohli has enjoyed a long run of home Tests, as India have played nine consecutive home matches since September. He's made three double centuries in that run and is desperate to show up against the Aussies having made four centuries against them when these teams last met.

India go into the first Test as $1.67 favorites to win, with the draw priced at $3.90 and an Australian win at $5.

International Twenty20 cricket is the only format of the game of cricket in which Australia have struggled to make an impression.

The Aussies have competed in six editions of the World Twenty20 and made it to just one final, which when you consider their status as a perennial powerhouse in both Test and one-day cricket is an underachievement.

The main reason for this has been priorities, with international T20 not given the respect it deserves when it comes to scheduling, as evidenced by the upcoming three-match T20 home series against Sri Lanka that starts on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia's best cricketers are in India preparing for a four-match Test series that begins less than 24 hours after this T20 series finishes, which shows where Cricket Australia sees international T20.

But the scheduling oversight has allowed the best performing players from the recent Big Bash League to get their chance in the national side.

Chief among them are Ben Dunk and Michael Klinger, who along with Australia's skipper for this series, Aaron Finch, topped the run scorers for the BBL.

The Perth Scorchers pair of Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye performed well with the ball in the BBL and also got the call-up, but surprisingly Sean Abbott, who led all wicket-takers with 20 from 10 BBL games, missed out.

Oddsmakers believe Australia, who defeated Sri Lanka twice in their most recent T20 series in September, will be too strong despite missing players of the caliber of Glenn Maxwell, David Warner and Mitchell Starc. They are $1.24 to win the opener with Sri Lanka at $4.10, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

In terms of the leading run-scorer for the Aussies, Finch is at $3.50 to be the top scorer, with fellow opener Klinger at $4.50 in his debut and Travis Head at $5.

Sri Lanka are coming off a T20 series win in South Africa, where they lost the first game but won the next two. Opener Niroshan Dickwella was the Player of the Series, scoring 43 in the first match and a crucial 68 off 51 balls in the decider in Cape Town.

Asela Gunaratne struck 11 off the final over of that match to get his side over the line, and he and Dickwella shape up as important players, especially with the experienced Angelo Matthews missing the series through injury.

Upul Tharanga leads the team, which includes Lasith Malinga. The fast bowler has endured a horrific 12-month run with injuries and is the $4 favorite to get the most wickets for Sri Lanka in his first international match since last February.

Dickwella is a $4 favorite to top the scorers for the tourists, with young gun Kusal Mendis, who performed well in the Test series against Australia last year, the $5 second favorite along with Tharanga and Dilshan Munaweera.

The sixth edition of the Big Bash League has been an enormous success and comes to its conclusion on Saturday night at the WACA when the Perth Scorchers host the Sydney Sixers in the final in Perth, Australia.

The two teams had contrasting semi-final successes. The Scorchers dominated their qualifier against the Melbourne Stars from the beginning, thanks to a brilliant spell of bowling from Mitchell Johnson, who took three for three from four overs.

They restricted the Stars to 136 and chased that down comfortably with over three overs to spare to secure their position as hosts and a shot at a third BBL title.

The Sixers, meanwhile, had to take on the Brisbane Heat on enemy soil and only progressed after surviving the drama of a super over. Moises Henriques, who scored 64 in the innings proper, then smashed 18 of the Sixers' 22 in the super over—a total the Heat couldn't get near.

The nature of those wins are reflected in the market, with the Scorchers posted as $1.74 (AUD) favourites and the Sixers at $2.08, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

These two teams met at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier in the tournament, with the Sixers restricting the Scorchers to their lowest total of the BBL campaign, eight for 130, with Mitchell Marsh the only Perth batsman to score more than 30.

The Sixers ran that total down with two overs to spare, with Sam Billings top scoring for 40 and A.J. Tye taking three for 15 for the losers.

But you couldn't get two more different pitches than the SCG and the WACA, and we can expect much higher scores in this match.

The market for the Scorchers' highest runscorer sees Michael Klinger, who has 263 runs for the tournament, as the $3.20 favourite, with Ian Bell a $4.20 pick and Sam Whiteman at $5.50.

Sean Abbott has the most wickets of any bowler in BBL 06 with 20 and has been the Sixers' leading wicket-taker in six of their nine games to date. He is $3.50 to do it again here, while Nathan Lyon, who took four wickets in his last match, is $3.75.

Similarly to the Scorchers, the Sixers haven't had a dominant runscorer through the tournament, but their leading man Daniel Hughes, who has 296 BBL 06 runs, is $3.75 top pick to lead their scorers in the final. Henriques is second pick at $4.50 and looks in good form heading into the decider.

Johnson is the bowler the Sixers most fear, and he is $3 to get the most wickets for the home side. Tye has 10 wickets for the BBL and is second pick at $3.50.

After Pakistan ended their 32-year wait for a one-day win against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, the teams head west for a match at the WACA on Thursday with the best-of-five ODI series locked at one win apiece.

Taking a quick look at the odds, though, you wouldn't realize that Pakistan are coming off a win. They are set at $3.82 AUD, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, the exact same odds they were at for their win in the second game. The Aussies are at short odds of $1.27 to regain the series lead.

Australia will have to do it without a pair of Mitches, though. Mitchell Starc will be rested, and Mitch Marsh was ruled out because of a right-shoulder complaint. The latter's replacement will be Victorian Peter Handscomb, who will make his debut.

Handscomb will slot into the middle order, but it's been the top order that's caused the most headaches for the home side. In fact, it's looked shaky for much of the ODI summer, with the team relying on individual brilliance to dig them out of trouble on numerous occasions.

At the Gabba in the series opener, Australia crashed to five for 78 before being rescued by a Matthew Wade century, and in Sunday's loss, Australia were four for 86 before being bowled out for 220.

The visitors had no such troubles, with Mohammad Hafeez scoring 72 crucial runs to set up the chase of the mediocre total. The win came with 2.2 overs to spare and should give them the belief that they can do it again in this one.

Interestingly, the Aussies have played six ODIs against Pakistan at the WACA. The tourists were victorious on the first four occasions, with the hosts bouncing back to win the last two.

Australia will be hoping for a fast and bouncy wicket at the WACA, with big Billy Stanlake coming into the team for Starc. Stanlake's inclusion means the hosts are going with a four-pronged pace attack.

Pakistan's quicks bowled well in Melbourne, though, especially Mohammad Amir, who finished with figures of three for 47 from 9.2 overs.

Stanlake is $4 to get most wickets for Australia, behind Josh Hazlewood, who is the $3.75 favourite along with James Faulkner.

Amir will love getting on to the bouncy Perth wicket and is $3.75 to be Pakistan's leading wicket-taker of the match.

In terms of the overall series, Australia are $1.10 and Pakistan are $7. However, that would change significantly should Pakistan secure another win on Thursday ahead of the fourth ODI in Sydney on Sunday.

Having rediscovered their winning mojo after a disastrous start to the summer of cricket, Australia head into the five-match, one-day international series against Pakistan with plenty of confidence after whitewashing the tourists in their recently completed Test series.

Australia are almost unbackable at $1.10 to win the home series, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, having not lost a one-day match against Pakistan on Australian soil in 12 years.

The World Cup champions have been totally dominant over Pakistan in recent years in this format, winning 12 of the past 14 matches between the two, including the past five.

It all points to a comfortable couple of weeks for Australia, but with an important tour of India looming next month, this is no time to flirt with form.

David Warner, who is $3.40 to top-score for the Aussies in the opening match in Brisbane on Friday, put on two brutal knocks in the recent Test in Sydney and will be hoping to continue that form, while skipper Steve Smith, who is $3.75 to top-score in Game 1, will be crucial in the Indian series and will want a strong finish to his Aussie summer.

But much of the interest will be in big-hitting Queenslander Chris Lynn, who has earned a national call-up off his extraordinary Big Bash campaign for the Brisbane Heat.

Lynn looks an even cleaner hitter of the ball than Warner, having smashed 26 sixes in five Big Bash games, and the home fans will be particularly keen to see him perform well at the Gabba. He is $6 to top-score on his ODI debut.

The selection of Lynn and another Queenslander in 204-centimetre-tall, fast-bowler Billy Stanlake is a nod to Australia's preparations for its World Cup defense in 2019.

Stanlake is also likely to play in the opening match, with the Aussies resting Josh Hazlewood, who has had a  busy summer to date. Mitchell Starc, $3.14 favorite to get most wickets for the Aussies, is likely to be rested later in the series.

Australia are $1.27 to win the opening match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, with Pakistan at $3.82. The Gabba was of course the venue where Pakistan got close to scoring one of the great Test wins last month, with a mammoth fourth-innings run chase falling just short against Australia.

Whether that gives Pakistan any confidence is questionable. Azhar Ali leads a team that has a few new faces, but two of their important players, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed and 216-centimetre paceman Mohammad Irfan, have returned home because of family reasons.

It leaves them a little light in experience, with Ali ($4 to be Pakistan's top scorer at the Gabba) and Shoaib Malik ($5) likely to carry the load with the bat, while Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz, who are both $4 to lead the wicket takers in the first ODI, will again be the front line with the ball.

Recent history tells us Pakistan are a better Test side than one-day side, and having come up short in the Test series, it's hard to see them putting up much of a fight in the ODI matches. With India looming, Australia will be focused on strong, professional performances, and that spells trouble for the tourists.

Australia go into Tuesday's third Test against Pakistan as overwhelming favorites to complete a 3-0 sweep as a roller-coaster series comes to its conclusion at the SCG.

The hosts secured an unassailable 2-0 series lead thanks to a dramatic final-day collapse from Pakistan, who needed to bat out in order to secure a well-earned draw. But after the batsmen and rain had dominated the first four days, some excellent bowling from the Australians, led by 4-36 from Mitchell Starc, got the job done.

As a result, a bit of the sting has gone out of this match, with Australia at $1.42 to win and Pakistan at $7.10, according to Australian Gambling. The draw is at $4.80.

The forecast is for rain on each of the five days, but it is not expected to be significant or long-lasting.

The highlight for Pakistan in Melbourne was the batting of Azhar Ali, who compiled the second-highest score ever by a touring batsman at an MCG Test with his unbeaten 205.

Given that, it's hardly surprising he goes into the match as a $4.33 favorite to top score in the first innings for Pakistan ahead of Younis Khan ($4.50) and first-Test centurion Asad Shafiq ($5).

Similarly, Steve Smith, who notched his 17th Test century at the MCG, where he boasts an average of 127, is $3.25 to top score for the Aussies in the first innings of this match.

Smith averages 76.40 at the SCG and has scored a century in the first innings of his past two Test matches at his home ground.

David Warner, also coming off an MCG ton, is the $3.75 second pick to top score for the Aussies, while Usman Khawaja, dismissed for 97 in Melbourne, is at $4.

The make-up of the Aussie bowling lineup is something of a mystery heading into this match, with a chance that either Starc or Josh Hazlewood could be rested. Sydney has historically suited spin bowlers, and the Aussies called two of them into their squad: Stephen O'Keefe and Ashton Agar.

Nathan Lyon may have saved his spot in the Test team with his three crucial wickets on the final day in Melbourne and could have both Agar and O'Keefe to support him. Nic Maddinson will likely be dropped, with the No. 6 spot up for grabs.

Hilton Cartwright, the seam-bowling all-rounder, could be set for a Test debut. But the Aussies could also opt to use Agar, who has a famous test 99 to his credit, as an all-rounder.

It makes the leading wicket-taker market somewhat fraught, with Starc second pick at $3.25 behind Hazlewood at $3. Jackson Bird, who had a solid MCG Test, is $4.33 while Lyon is at $5 and O'Keefe is at $5.50.

Mohammad Amir somehow went wicketless in Melbourne but was arguably Pakistan's best bowler, beating the bat countless times and conceding just 91 off 33 overs.

He is $3.50 to be top wicket-taker for Pakistan in the first innings, while Yasir Shah, who toiled for his 3-207, will be hoping for a better return at the spin-friendly SCG, where he is $3.75 to take most wickets in the first innings.

Given Pakistan's strong credentials against the spinning ball and the likelihood of Australia picking two spinners, it's shaping up to be a tactical battle for much of the five days.

However, Pakistan have cost themselves both tests to date by having one or two poor sessions, so you'd think the home side holds the edge and should claim a 3-0 series sweep.

Over 70,000 fans are expected to turn out on Boxing Day in Melbourne to see Australia attempt to wrap up the three-match series against Pakistan in the traditional MCG Boxing Day Test.

While the first Test between them was a lot closer than Australia would have liked, with Pakistan coming within 40 runs of an extraordinary win after a mammoth fourth-innings run chase, the oddsmakers firmly believe that the Aussies will get the job done here and have the home side as $1.40 favorites to win this match according to website AustralianGambling.com.au.

Pakistan, who have now lost 10 consecutive Test matches on Australian soil, are $5.50 outsiders despite their Brisbane heroics. That is about half a point shorter than they started for the opening Test of the series and it is likely the conditions at the MCG will suit their bowlers a lot more.

Hot weather is expected for the start of the match, meaning that rain interruptions should be at a minimum, and the draw is considered the least likely of the three results at $6. It is worth noting that there has been only one draw in an MCG Test this century from the 16 matches played.

In fact, of the 97 Tests played on Australian soil since the start of 2000, just 16 have been draws, while 12 have been Australian losses.

The key to avoiding an upset here will be strong Australian batting. Steve Smith, who is $3.25 to be Australia's first innings top scorer, notched a 16th Test century in Brisbane and looks in good touch. David Warner's form is more of a concern. He may be second in the market to be the Australian top scorer at $4, but in his last nine Tests, he is without a century and averaged just 28 in that time period.

Pakistan can bring considerable pressure to bear with the ball. Mohammad Amir, who is the $3 favorite to have the most first-innings wickets, was good in Brisbane with five wickets in total, while Wahab Riaz ($4) also took four first-innings wickets, including the top three Australian scorers.

Yasir Shah ($4) bowled 53 overs across the two innings, including 43 in the first, without a lot of luck. He had missed a bit of cricket heading into that game, so you'd expect him to be more dangerous on what should be a more suitable MCG pitch.

That Pakistan were able to get so close in Brisbane with only minor contributions from their top three batsmen, Misbah Ul Haq, Azhar Ali and Younis Khan, was remarkable. Those three are all at the top of the market to be top run-scorers in Pakistan's first innings, while the man who almost orchestrated the most extraordinary of Test wins, Asad Shafiq, seems like value at $5.

Mitchell Starc was the best of the bowlers but was made to toil for 56 overs for his eight wickets in total across the four and a bit days. Starc is $2.75 to be Australia's leading first innings wicket-taker, with Josh Hazelwood, who was economical but not damaging in Brisbane, at $3.

Aside from Starc, there was a suggestion Australia's bowling lacked bite, especially as the Pakistani run chase wore on, and that could see a call-up for Chadd Sayers.

If Pakistan can hold their discipline and nerve across the five days, they could really push Australia, but you sense that the margin between Australia's best and worst sessions will be smaller. They are deserved favorites.

The Gabba in Brisbane has been an Australian fortress for nearly 30 years. The last touring team to go there and win a Test were the legendary West Indies team of 1988, and while this week's Test between Australia and Pakistan will be the first played under day-night conditions at the venue, the betting markets are tipping another home victory.

Australia's past few months have been some of the roughest in recent cricketing history for the proud nation, with Test series losses away to Sri Lanka and at home to South Africa. That led to a massive changing of the guard ahead of the final Test of that South Africa series in Adelaide, with the chairman of selectors replaced and five changes made to the starting XI.

Included in that five were three debutant batsmen, and the team approached their task in Adelaide with a renewed energy, winning the dead rubber easily.

As a result of that, plus a dominant 3-0 series sweep of New Zealand in one-day cricket, the home side go in as $1.36 favorites for this match, which starts Thursday, while the Aussies are $1.25 to win the series, according to AustralianGambling.com.au.

Those odds seem remarkable for a team that had lost five Tests in succession and looked like they were going nowhere prior to Adelaide. But Australian bookmakers have a habit of underquoting on the Aussies, who started as favorites for the two home Tests they lost to South Africa in Perth and Hobart.

Pakistan are $6.20 to win this match, having not played a Test in Brisbane since 1999 and having lost nine consecutive Tests in Australia, a streak that goes back to 1995.

Typical of Pakistani teams, there is plenty of talent here. The question is how they can apply themselves. Their batting is led by the trio of Azhar Ali, Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq, all of whom are both experienced and talented.

The fitness of leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who has taken 40 Test wickets in the second half of this year, is crucial to their chances. He has had back issues and is no certainty to line up despite being $4 to take the most first-innings wickets.

Heading that market is Mohammad Amir at $3.25. Amir's career mirrors the roller coaster that is Pakistan cricket. He was jailed over his involvement in spot-fixing as a teenager and spent six years out of the game. His return to the Test arena has been promising, and he recently bowled a mesmerizing spell with the pink ball in a tour match.

Amir's tribulations and those of his nation put Australia's spot of trouble last month into perspective.

David Warner looks to be back in touch after a pair of ODI centuries against New Zealand, while Usman Khawaja is coming off a ton in the most recent Test.

The Aussie bowling attack will enjoy the humid Queensland conditions as well, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood both bowling well in Adelaide. Expect Nathan Lyon to fare much better than he did earlier in the summer. The Gabba is statistically one of his best grounds.

The expectation is that Australia will have too much experience and depth and that Pakistan will again fold. But you suspect the difference between these two teams is not as great as the betting markets indicate. At the very least, it will be fascinating to watch what this resurgent Pakistan team put forward.

It has taken wins in one Test and two one-day internationals to turn the momentum of Australia's summer around, and they go into the third and final match of the Chappell Hadlee series against New Zealand at the MCG on the verge of a series sweep.

Two weeks ago, Australian cricket was at a crossroads after a humiliating Test series loss to South Africa, but a win in the dead rubber of that series and a comfortable pair of 50-over wins in Sydney and Canberra against the touring Black Caps has brightened the skies.

Australia have been utterly dominant in the ODI series, led from the front by Steve Smith and David Warner, Australia's two best batsmen. Smith compiled a brilliant 164 in the first ODI in Sydney, while Warner poured on the class with his 119 in Canberra.

Those innings allowed Australia to put together massive totals of 324 and 378 in their two matches to date, both of which proved well beyond the under-strength Kiwis.

With defeats of 68 and 116 runs, it is little surprise that the Black Caps find themselves as outsiders—at a price of $3.34, with Australia at $1.33—to make it 3-0 in Melbourne, according to website AustralianGambling.com.au.

The last time New Zealand played Australia on this ground was the 2015 World Cup final, where they were humbled on the big stage. The Black Caps did win at the MCG in 2009, but the Aussies lead the head-to-head matchup in ODIs here 15-4.

You wouldn't think skipper Kane Williamson would fancy sending Australia in again should he win the toss as he did in Canberra. His inexperienced bowling line-ups were taken for plenty of runs, with only spinner Mitchell Santner able to contain the flow.

In contrast, the Aussie bowlers impressed, especially Pat Cummins, who took a career-best 4-41. He is $5 to be Australia's leading wicket-taker in this match, while Mitch Starc, who has just three wickets in the first two matches, is $3 to take the most wickets here. The value could be the other Mitch, Marsh, who took 5-33 at the MCG in a World Cup match in 2015 and is $6 to get most wickets in this one.

Tim Southee, who didn't play in the first game but looked the most dangerous of the Kiwi pacemen in Canberra, is $3.75 and good value to get the most wickets for the Black Caps.

In terms of the leading run scorer, it's little surprise that Warner ($3.40) and Smith ($3.60) are top of the markets, but it's worth noting that Warner's fellow opener Aaron Finch ($5) has two centuries and a 96 in his past three MCG ODI innings.

Martin Guptill, who struck a century in the opening match in Sydney, is $3.60 to top score for the Black Caps in the final match, while Williamson, who top scored with 81 in Canberra, is $3.75 to repeat that honor.

If New Zealand are to salvage something from the series, you'd think they'd need big innings from both men. But in spite of what promises to be a wintery day in Melbourne, you'd think the home side will complete the sweep.

Having snapped their Test losing streak, Australia will be looking to end another five-match barren run when they host New Zealand in the ODI Chappell-Hadlee series, which starts this Sunday in Sydney.

While Australia may have won the World Cup at the start of 2015, their lack of depth in the 50-over format was shown in the 5-0 series loss in South Africa in October.

The big difference for Australia in this series is that they get back front-line bowling trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner, who all missed the tour of South Africa.

The trans-Tasman rivals have played each other three times since Australia's victory in the World Cup final at the MCG in March 2015, with New Zealand prevailing in the 2015-16 edition of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy 2-1 after victories in Auckland and Hamilton.

Remarkably, this is the first time these two have met in a one-day series on Australian soil since 2009, but traditionally, the Aussies have dominated when the teams play here, having lost only two of the past 15 home ODIs between the two.

Hence they go into series as $1.36 favorites, according to website AustralianGambling.com.au, while the Black Caps are $3.10 outsiders.

A series sweep for the Aussies is priced at $3, with the favorite series result 2-1 in Australia's favor at $2.25. A Black Caps 2-1 series win is considered a $3.75 chance, while a New Zealand sweep is at $13.

The return of Faulkner and Hazlewood is big, but Starc's inclusion is massive. He boasts the best strike rate and average of any Australian ODI bowler with more than 50 wickets. Accordingly, he is the $2.87 favorite to be Australia's leading wicket taker of the series.

The importance of Starc with the ball is matched by the importance of David Warner with the bat. The powerful left-hander so often sets the tone for the Aussie innings and is equal favorite with skipper Steve Smith to score the most runs for Australia in the series at $2.75.

But the player who could prove crucial for Australia is Mitchell Marsh. The 25-year-old may have hit a flat spot in his career, but he was excellent against the Kiwis earlier this year, claiming seven wickets in the three games and scoring 110 runs.

New Zealand are missing two powerful batsmen in Corey Anderson and Ross Taylor for this series, leaving Kane Williamson to carry much of the load with the bat as well as captain the side.

Williamson is $2.25 to top the run-scorers' list for New Zealand over the three matches, but it's worth noting that in six previous matches against Australia, he has only made it past 50 once. Martin Guptill might be a better bet at $3 seeing he did make two 50s in the last Chappell-Hadlee series. Fellow opener Tom Latham, who was recalled for the recent ODI series against India, is at $4.

The Kiwis' bowling lineup also lacks depth with Trent Boult and Tim Southee taking the new ball. They are $3 equal favorites for most wickets, but you'd lean toward Southee, who edged Boult seven wickets to six in the recent Indian series.

Across the three games, you'd expect the Black Caps' inexperience to be shown up and the home side, with a point to prove, to flex their muscles and build some more momentum back into their summer.