WhatSecond Semi Final of the ICC 2015 World Cup, between Australia and India
WhenThursday, March 26, 2015 - 09:00 IST| 03:30 GMT
WhereSydney Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
The teams
IndiaIndia, for the first time ever, have made it to the World Cup semi-finals undefeated. On the face of it, it is a feat very much expected off one of the strongest ODI teams in the world who also happen to be the defending champions. But in the wake of a winless summer in Australia leading up to the tournament, this run of Indian victories is nothing short of a miraculous turnaround.
But the real and perhaps, the toughest test of them all is facing India now. It’s the semi-final of the World Cup and they will be up against their nemesis of the summer – an Australian team that has dominated them throughout in both formats. The confidence of their previous wins over India and the home advantage is with the Aussies. They will go in as favourites.
However, there’s one factor that favours India. The Indians have seen what the Australians are capable of at their strongest. But the hosts are yet to face the Indian team at their best. All summer, the Aussie bowlers haven’t bowled to the Indian lineup that builds the innings methodically – form a base in the first 10 overs, rotate the strike in the middle overs, keep wickets in hand and capitalise in the last 10. The in-form Aussie batsmen haven’t been tested by the relentless consistency and pace of the Indian fast bowling troika. And they haven’t been subjected to R Ashwin’s clever change of pace or flummoxed by his arm-ball. Australia have hardly been at the receiving end of India’s hare-like agility in the field. All summer, Australia haven’t faced an Indian side free from injuries and settled to the core.
For India to make that advantage count, however, they cannot afford to simply maintain their standard of excellence. They will have to better it. After all, this opponent has the form, confidence and mental edge over them of much larger magnitude than any they have downed thus far. And it is the World Cup semi-final.
AustraliaHigh of form, high on confidence and at home – Australia have everything going their way. A major reason for their march in this World Cup has been their fast bowling led by the two Mitchells. And that is their obvious strength going into the semi-final against India. There will be the well-known tactic of testing the Indian batsmen with pace and bouncers. But the Aussies will know that they will have to be ready with Plan B.
Their batting, throughout the tournament, has thrived on firepower provided by David Warner, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell. They will need at least one of them to come up with a sustained onslaught with someone like Steve Smith or Michael Clarke as an adhesive at the other end.
Perhaps, the biggest challenge for this Australian batting lineup will be negotiating the middle-overs where they will have to counter MS Dhoni’s mastery in maneuvering his spinners. That will make Ashwin’s 10 overs very crucial for both teams.
Key players
IndiaVirat Kohli has one century in this World Cup so far. Besides that, he hasn’t made past 50. That hundred came against Pakistan – the biggest game for India in terms of the pressure attached to it. This is bigger. It is the semi-final of a World Cup. And it is Australia – a team that Virat has unnerved more than any opposition batsman has managed to do in a long time. Virat’s will be the wicket the Aussies would be most desperate for and this will definitely be the match where Virat will come in all guns blazing. He will be charged up, to renew his battle with the Aussies in the Test series and to take India to the final.
AustraliaMatches: six.
Wickets: 18.
Average: 9.77.
Economy Rate: 3.74.
Strike Rate: 15.6. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Mitchell Starc has carried the Australian team on his shoulders in this tournament. He is quick, he is accurate and he can get the ball to move. Starc could be the difference between a massive and modest Indian total. He will definitely feature prominently in India’s team meetings.
StatsAverage first innings score at Sydney (overall): 223
Average first innings score at Sydney (since 2010): 262
Average second innings score at Sydney (overall): 188
Average second innings score at Sydney (since 2010): 205
Result summary at Sydney:
|
Matches
|
Won by
side batting 1st
|
Won by
side batting 2nd
|
NR
|
|
Overall
|
82
|
61
|
7
|
|
Since
2010
|
5
|
9
|
3
|
Head-to-head:
|
Matches
|
Played
|
Ind won
|
Aus won
|
NR
|
Tied
|
|
Overall
|
117
|
40
|
67
|
10
|
0
|
|
in World
Cup
|
10
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
Last meeting between both sides in World CupMarch 24, 2011 at Ahmedabad
Aus 260/6 (50 overs), India 261/5 (47.4 overs). India won by 5 wickets.
Form guide (most recent listed first):India: W, W, W, W, W
Australia: W, W, W, W, L
Pace vs Spin at Sydney (Who has been more effective)since 2010
|
Wkts
|
Avg
|
SR
|
RPO
|
Best
|
|
Pace
|
149
|
32.45
|
36.47
|
5.33
|
4-40
|
|
Spin
|
54
|
34.66
|
43.01
|
4.83
|
5-45
|
Trivia
India have beaten Australia in five out of six knock-out games of tournaments comprising four or more teams.
Rohit Sharma in his last two matches against Australia has scored 347 runs with 20 sixes and 21 fours.
Among all bowlers who have taken at least 50 wickets in their ODI careers, Mitchell Starc has the best average (18.65) and best strike-rate (23.27).
Squads
India: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma.
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.
