Quarter-final Preview: India meet Australia in high-octane clash

By Jamie Alter

 

World Cup quarter-finals don’t come more loaded than this. The defending champions, with a proud record of having won the title a record three times in a row, against the side most likely to snatch it from them.

 

By Jamie Alter

 

Ahmedabad: Mar 24, 2011

 

World Cup quarter-finals don’t come more loaded than this. The defending champions, with a proud record of having won the title a record three times in a row, against the side most likely to snatch it from them.

 

Few teams know each as well as these two, having played each other 11 teams since India lifted the CB Series in Australia three years ago. Familiarity breeds contempt, goes the saying, and there truly is no love lost between these two teams. From the fractious tour of Australia in 2007-08, to the Watson-Gambhir spat during the return tour, India’s rivalry with Australia has increased and taken on a new meaning of competitiveness.

 

One the one hand, a battery of pace bowlers. On the other, a batting line-up worth its weight in gold. On the one hand, a team woefully short of penetration with spin. On the other, a team that looks treats the batting Powerplay like the plague. On the one hand, a legend at the end of his career who has lifted the World Cup three times, but who can’t put bat to ball. One the other, a legend in the form of his life but chasing that elusive dream. On all accounts this cracker is loaded with subtext, one that even Shakespeare would have to appreciate.

 

Neither team has been thoroughly convincing so far in the tournament. India have yet to beat a major side, with success coming over Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands and West Indies. On the two occasions Sachin Tendulkar has scored a century, India failed to win; they tied with England and were defeated by South Africa. For India, the batting and bowling has been equally worrisome. Against South Africa, they lost nine wickets for 29 runs and against West Indies seven wickets for 50. The bowlers failed to defend 338 against India and 296 against South Africa.

 

Australia’s wins came over Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Kenya and Canada, while defeat in the last match ended a 34-match unbeaten streak in the World Cup. Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait have been hit and miss and Australia will need the pair to step up and support Brett Lee in a knock-out scenario. In the spin department, Jason Krejza has five wickets at 46.60, and Steve Smith a solitary wicket while conceding 139 runs.

 

India will wait nervously to see if Virender Sehwag recovers from a knee injury sustained due to an allergic reaction to a painkilling injection in his right knee. He missed India’s final league match in Chennai last week, and India need him back at the top despite a modest ODI average of 22.65 from 27 outings against Australia. Should Sehwag be ruled out, Gautam Gambhir will continue to open with Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina will keep his place in the middle order.

 

Australia started their campaign in Ahmedabad, beating Zimbabwe by 91 runs, while India have yet to play here. Of the 12 matches they’ve played here, India have won just five. Their last match here was a year ago and ended in a 90r-run loss to South Africa. To see their last win at this venue, you have to go back to November 2002.

 

Who will triumph? Who will the nerves consume? Will Tendulkar reach century No 99? Will Lee dig deep into his vault of experience and inspire Australia? Will Ponting seize the occasion to deliver yet another match-winning innings? Will India’s dream come crashing down? All shall be told tomorrow. Don’t miss it for anything.

 

Teams:

 

India (Probable): Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c&wk), Yusuf Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel.

 

Australia (Probable): Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Shaun Tait.

 

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (South Africa) and Ian Gould (England)

 

Time: 14.30 local (09.00 GMT)

 

 

(Jamie Alter is a freelance cricket writer, having worked at ESPNcricinfo and All Sports Magazine. His first book, The History of World Cup Cricket, is out now. His twitter feed is @jamie_alter)

 

 

Pictures © Getty Images

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