Australia vs India - ICC World Cup 2015 Semi Final 2 @ SCG 2:30pm 26/03/15

[Cristiano Ronaldo]

Match Details

First ball: 2:30pm
Date: 26/03/15
Venue: SCG
TV coverage: Nine/WIN, Fox Sports 3
Odds: Australia $1.42 - India $2.92

Weather: Forecast to be mostly sunny at a maximum of 27°C. Light winds becoming west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/hour in the evening.

Predicted Lineups

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke*, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh, Hazlewood.

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni*, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav.

ESPNcricinfo preview here.

Pre-match Press Conferences

 

[The King!]

Be nice to have a spinner to bring in

 

[Slax]

I've grabbed some of the $3 that are being quoted, seriously can't believe that people think this is going to be as easy as the odds suggest.

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo]

I've grabbed some of the $3 that are being quoted, seriously can't believe that people think this is going to be as easy as the odds suggest.

I agree. Odds should be Aus $1.40 and Ind $2.20 at most

 

[damochandler]

i think you bat first

 

[Righteo]

Inclement weather a concern? I shat enough bricks just then watching a neutral game so I'm not looking forward to the butterflies I'll get on Thurs.

Gotta bat first.

 

[fishardansin]

Mostly sunny
Min: 18°C Max: 26°C
UV: Very High

Weather shouldn't be an issue.

Also saying Australia have a 75% chance of winning the game is not saying it'll be easy for them. If Australia bats well and Johnson starts to bowl a fuller length then they should win.

 

[bird_man]

Unfortunately I've heard it's going to be a very flat pitch which will suit India. Hopefully there is a bit of life in it for our bowlers otherwise it will be tough to control India's batsman.

 

[vindi18]

This will be closer than the odds ($1.40 vs $3.00) suggest.

Pitch is expected to be the same spinning one from the RSA v SRL game last week... which will suit India's 2 spinners vs Australia's 0.5 spinners.

M Starc will need full support from the other pacemen on what should be a good batting track. Likewise M Shami and the Indian pacemen.

Expected 70% Indian fans in an Australian "home game" will make for an amazing spectacle.

Sledging... apparently there will be plenty of heat in this one... likely culprits are Johnson & Warner & Watson vs Kohli & Dhawan & Jadeja

 

[ep2018]

Unfortunately I've heard it's going to be a very flat pitch which will suit India. Hopefully there is a bit of life in it for our bowlers otherwise it will be tough to control India's batsman.

Tough to control ours either! Win the toss and you win the game!

 

[MWPP]

Posted this in the finals thread, but as a Kiwi fan (who supports Australia when they aren't playing NZ) , I'm torn about this Thursday! I fancy NZ's chances of winning a final against India much more than against Aus (but having said that, we would rightly still be underdogs against both of those teams), but a Trans-Tasman final would be so romantic . I think I'll be going for Australia, just!

I am sure the winner of this semi will be stronger favourites than $1.40 for the final against NZ (Aus $1.20, India $1.30)

 

[Kram]

At least one of either Warner and Finch better bloody do something, they don't inspire a lot of confidence as opening partners.

 

[Cristiano Ronaldo]

I'm expecting a lot of short bowling aggression from the Indians

 

[DT_fanatic]

I'm expecting a lot of short bowling aggression from the Indians

I hope not. Warner will feast on that stuff. The short ball has been used as a surprise weapon by India thus far and hopefully that's how it will be on Thursday as well.

 

[BluesMan]

Not sure how confident I am. If we are playing a 5 game series against india here in aus, I expect us to win 4-1, and I think we would do that easily.

But it only takes that one game India win as its a knockout comp. Hopefully we bat first and put 300+ on. I'd be very confident from there.

 

[RohitSharma]

How passionate are you guys? Will you guys cry if you lose the semis?

 

[vaughany]

Any word yet on the SCG pitch?

 

[vaughany]

How passionate are you guys? Will you guys cry if you lose the semis?

Some might but probably not. Aussies are probably more likely to cry over an Ashes series rather than a World Cup IMO

 

[bird_man]

How passionate are you guys? Will you guys cry if you lose the semis?

No.

 

[peternorth]

anyone else feeling uneasy regarding talk amongst the community about an australia-kiwis final?

 

[Slax]

Toss will be critical as will the opening partnerships. Australia need to win the toss to win, history says we're not that great at chasing down large totals, different story though for India.

India just look like they have more players in the sort of form you need to be able to post a 320+ score (which is what I think will be needed to win) than Australia.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Got my ticket to the final 13 months ago so am nervous for us to win this...

 

[Reppie]

anyone else feeling uneasy regarding talk amongst the community about an australia-kiwis final?

Kiwis would be favorites whether they play India or Australia.
Playing the best cricket IMO.

 

[peternorth]

Kiwis would be favorites whether they play India or Australia.
Playing the best cricket IMO.

how about talk australia will defeat india like its a fait accompli ?

 

[NYRB]

1.40 on Australia is too sort, as I speak they have drifted out to 1.47 now.


I will be heading to my 1st World Cup cricket match so am very excited!