Warner vs Shami to Maxwell vs Aswin: 5 key battles that will decide India vs Australia

Warner vs Shami to Maxwell vs Aswin: 5 key battles that will decide India vs Australia

Here’s a look at the key match-ups that will decide the India vs Australia World Cup semi-final.

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Warner vs Shami to Maxwell vs Aswin: 5 key battles that will decide India vs Australia

India take on Australia in the second semi-final of the 2015 World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The visitors will go into the match brimming with confidence having won seven consecutive matches in the tournament but they know it’s not going to be an easy task.

Australia have never lost a World Cup semi-final and they have won their last 12 completed ODIs on home soil. Of the 14 meetings between these teams at the SCG, India have won just once and lost 12 with one ending in no result. It’s going to be a nerve-wrecking battle and here’s a look at the key match-ups that will decide the tie.

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File picture of Glenn Maxwell. Getty

Warner vs Shami

David Warner vs Mohammad Shami is going to be a riveting battle. A flamboyant batsman up against a transformed bowler. Warner hasn’t had the best of times in this tournament so far, apart from the 178 against Afghanistan, his scores read - 22, 34, 9, 21* and 24. His form is a bit of a concern for Australia with fellow opener Aaron Finch not clicking too and here’s where Shami’s role will be crucial.

Shami has been India’s highest wicket-taker in the World Cup so far with 17 wickets from six matches at 13.29 and strike rate of 18. He’s been hitting right lines and using the short ball to good effect. He’s not only managed to take regular wickets but also managed to choke the scoring as he’s bowled the highest percentage of dot balls - 69%.

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Warner averages just 31.80 against India with just one fifty and he would be looking to break the jinx and get a big one in a crunch match. Once he gets going, he can be unstoppable. Warner has a special liking for the SCG as he averages 54.75 at this venue.

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Maxwell vs Ashwin

There’s no secret in the fact that Glenn Maxwell has a special liking for Ravichandran Ashwin. It all started during Australia’s tour of India in 2013 where Maxwell went after Ashwin and then the battle continued in the Indian Premier League, on and off the field.

Maxwell has been in top form in this World Cup with 301 runs scored from five innings at an average of 75.25 and a staggering strike rate of 183.53. He’s finally broken the century hoodoo too. Throughout the tournament he’s played aggressive cricket and he’ll be waiting to pounce on Ashwin as soon as he comes on. Ashwin, on the other hand, have been one of the best spinners in the tournament. He’s used his stock ball to good effect and has 12 wickets from seven matches at an average of 24, economy rate of 4.29 and strike rate of 33.5.

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But against Zimbabwe, we saw that if the opposition batsmen looks to counter-attack, the off-spinner can be taken for runs. Ashwin ended up conceding 75 runs from his 10 overs while taking just one wicket. Maxwell has had an upper hand on Ashwin in ODIs hitting 77 runs from 53 balls at a SR of 145.28 with four fours and seven sixes. He’s been dismissed just once by the off-spinner. Ashwin would be looking to turn tables this time around and with spinners playing an important part at the SCG, his contribution will be the key.

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Dhawan vs Starc

After a disappointing Tri-series, Shikhar Dhawan has hit back hard and is currently India’s top run-getter in the tournament with 367 runs from seven innings at 52.42 with two centuries and a fifty.

He’ll be up against an in-form Mitchell Starc who is Australia’s highest wicket-taker and has been brilliant in this tournament. Dhawan has made a few adjustments in his technique but still his frailties outside the off stump can be exposed and this is where Starc will be looking to use his outswingers to good effect.

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Starc had scalped Dhawan in both the matches in the Tri-series which included a six-for at the MCG, he has 10 wickets at an average of 17.20 against India and this time around, Dhawan would be looking to have an upper hand and make sure he negates the Starc effect.

Raina vs Johnson

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Suresh Raina is turning out to be a vital cog in India’s batting line-up. His ability to up the ante at will and finish off games under pressure has made him one of the most dangerous batsmen in the World Cup. Quite often we have seen him change gears in the Batting Powerplay and take the game away from the opposition. This is where Mitchell Johnson’s role will be critical.

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It’s a well known fact that Raina’s weakness is the short ball. Johnson’s strength has been his disconcerting bouncers. Johnson hasn’t looked his best in this tournament but he can take heart from the fact that he’s scalped the most number of ODI wickets against India - 41 at an average of 26.12. He has also taken Raina’s wicket five times in 14 matches.

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Australia’s batting vs India’s death bowling

India’s perennial problem has been it’s death bowling. In this tournament, the bowlers haven’t been tested at the death thanks to some brilliant bowling by the pacers at the start and then by the spinners in the middle overs.

It could turn out to be a tricky for India as Australia bat very deep, with Brad Haddin coming in at No. 8, James Faulkner is one of the cleanest hitters and one of the best finishers in the business and still after Haddin they have Johnson and Starc who could swing the bat.

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Australia have averaged 114.66 in the last ten overs in matches in which they have played full 50 overs and this spells ominous signs for the India bowlers. The best strategy for them would be to do what they have been doing best, bowl out Australia inside 40 overs.

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