As India and Australia meet for the first time in a World Cup semifinal, historically the match appears between the Team Australia that has not lost in any of the 6 ODI World Cup semifinals and the Captain Dhoni who has never lost any semifinal of an ICC Tournament as well as any other ODI tournament. Aussies have completed hattrick of World Cup, while Dhoni is the only Cricket Captain to win all the three ICC tournaments. Now, his team is looking well equipped too. Before concluding on historical reasons that who will win the semifinal should it be better to remember how the 2015 World Cup has broke many historical jinx, including Indian win vs South Africa. Who has the edge then!!
World Cup 2015: Schedules and Results
Australia’s Journey to the 2015 World Cup Semifinal
Indian Journey to the 2015 World Cup Semifinal
One Knockout Win Each in World Cup
The record suggests 7 wins for Aussies and only 3 wins for Indians. At group stage they have met on remaining 8 occasions and Australia won 6 of them, while India won 2.
Even in ODI World Cups, both teams have won one knockout match each before. Australia trounced India in the 2003 World Cup Final. India avenged the defeat by knocking out Australia in 2011 World Cup quarterfinals.
Captain Dhoni Has Not Lost Any Semifinal, Australia Has
Whether it the semifinal of ICC events or any other tournaments, as a captain Dhoni has not lost any semifinal. Australia has lost semifinals, while Dhoni has lost the final once in other ICC tournaments.
Under Dhoni, India has never lost a semifinal in 8 years. He has lost three semifinals though. But not in international matches. He has lost two semifinals in IPL 2009 and IPL 2014 and one semifinal in Champions League Twenty20 2013.
Australia has lost two semifinals, including one to India in 2007 and a final in T20 World Cup.
Losses In Knockouts for Australia
- 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy: Quarterfinal
India (265–9, 50 ov) beat Australia (245, 46.4 ov) by 20 runs.
2002 ICC Champions Trophy: Semifinal
Sri Lanka def Australia by 7 wickets
Aus 162 (48.4), Sri Lanka 163/3 (40)
2004 ICC Champions Trophy: Semifinal
England def Australia by 6 wickets
Aus 259/9 (50 overs), Eng 262/4 (46.3 overs)
2013 ICC Champions Trophy: India won the final def England
Bowling Comparison
India has become the only team to grab 70 wickets in 7 consecutive matches. Australia is just a wicket behind that they failed to grab against New Zealand at group stage and they lost by that single wicket. With one match abandoned Australia has played only 6 matches and taken 59 wickets.
Indian Bowling Performance
Australian Bowling Performance
Shami and Starc, with Boult, are the most successful bowlers of this World Cup. For India, Umesh Yadav, Ashwin, MOhit Sharma and even Jadeja have worked as a team unit. For Aussies, Johnson is playing second fiddle. But their benefit lies in the fact that plenty of bowlers have grabbed 2-6 wickets so far.
Batting Comparison
The Batsmen from both teams have not made entry into the top 5 run scorers of the tournament.
Indians have hit 5 centuries, while Aussies have hit 3. But Aussies have hit 9 50s, while India have only 5 50s. 6 of the Indian batsmen have crossed 100 runs, while 7 Aussie batsmen have crossed the 100 run aggregate.
Dhawan, Rohit, Kohli, Raina and Dhoni have been so successful that the fast bowlers (except Shami) of India have got no opportunity to bat. For Australia, Maxwell and Steven Smith are the key, while Warner and Watson give hope of some better batting.
Conclusion
The semifinal is between World No. 1 Australia and World No. 2 India. Both of them are in great form, with India discovering additional arsenals in the form of rampaging bowlers. Even Indian batsmen have appeared to finally befriend Australian pitches. On the other hand, Australian bowlers led by Starc, not Johnson have rocked every other opponent and the batsmen are as always showing devastating form.
Australia may find home edge, but Indians appear completely at home too winning 7 consecutive games convincingly. But, being at home and better equipped for the pitch, Australia hold the edge.
Leave a Reply