THE REALITY CHEXK – The Broader Perspective This is the most difficult game to predict. Pre-tournament favourites India take on defending champions Australia in the second quarterfinal of the World Cup. There isn’t much between the two teams to pick. India haven’t been as impressive as people thought they would be. They lost against South Africa and only managed to tie the game against England and even their wins haven’t been convincing enough. India’s bowling is their main worry; it lacks the punch. No one apart from Zaheer Khan has been able to pick wickets consistently. Harbhajan Singh has been a big disappointment.
India will aim to attack the Australians with spin and that’s where Harbhajan can come to the party given his no love lost history against them. Harbhajan vs Ponting will be duel to watch. India also have an able spinner in R Ashwin who can be tricky with his “Carom Ball”. India’s batting need to fire today if they are to assert themselves. Australians will target Indian batsmen with short-pitch deliveries but Indians have enough batting class to tackle them. Plus Australia’s lack of spinning options is also an area which Indians will target. Three times defending champions Australia will have to improve big time after their loss to Pakistan in their last group game. Batting is Australia’s main worry with captain Ricky Ponting woefully out of form and the others failing to make up for that.
The Pakistanis exposed Australian batting frailties and the Indians will also be planning on the same lines. Australian pace attack is being led well by Brett Lee. However, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson were found wanting against Pakistan and against a superior Indian batting line it will be a real test for both the pacers. Australians may include David Hussey in place of Jason Krejza which will give them cushion in batting as well as a spinning option. Indians at home are always a difficult proposition but they have shown their vulnerability against good teams. If India plays to their potential they have a very bright chance of ending Australia’s World Cup campaign today. Form Guide & Conditions
India have just won 35 times against Australia out of the 104 games between the two with the latter winning 61. Conditions are expected to be hot and a spinning pitch is in prospect as Indians will aim to thwart the Aussies with spin. Team winning toss will like to bat first as batting can be difficult as the game progresses. Watch Out For Yuvraj Singh is a powerful left-hander and stroked his maiden World Cup century against the West Indies in the last game. He scored three fifties earlier in the tournament. Yuvraj has also taken nine wickets in six matches, including a haul of 5-31. His all round talent makes him a threat for Australia.
Shane Watson is the rock of Aussie batting. He has combined intelligent strokeplay with brute force in this tournament. He has registered scores of 79, 62, 21, 94 and 9 so far in this World Cup. He hasn’t done much with the ball but he can always get a wicket or two making him one to look out for.
Who Wins
It should be one of the closet games of the tournament where many will be voting for Australia but India on paper, and with the home ground advantage, can be too strong in the end.
