Throughout a long summer, Australia have dominated India. But on Thursday in the semi final of the ICC Cricket World 2015 Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), none of that will matter a jot. 5 Reasons Why Australia vs India Semi Final Is Unmissable
While the players may be exactly the same, the teams are entirely different. India are on a roll after winning seven consecutive matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, and Australia know it. Here we look at 4 stats that prove India have an upper hand against Australia in the second semi final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015:
1) The combined average of India’s top 6 batsmen is 53
Despite being one of only two undefeated teams at the World Cup, India don’t have any players atop the bowling or batting rankings for wickets taken and runs scored. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it suggests the team hasn’t been too reliant on a particular individual. India’s batting unit has performed in partnerships and the top 6 have made valuable contributions in the tournament so far. Australia vs India: 5 Key Battles
2) Australia’s opening woes
Australia’s average opening partnership in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is just 27. The dashing-duo of David Warner and Aaron Finch hasn’t fired yet and both of them have made only one big score and nothing else in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 so far. Australia’s best partnership in the tournament is 57. Australia would desperately want to get an aggressive start from their opening pair on the big day at the SCG. 10 Instances When India Played Australia In The ICC Cricket World Cup
3) India’s top 5 bowlers have taken 63 of India’s 65 wickets for the tournament
Unlike Australia, India have a very stable bowling attack. India’s captain MS Dhoni is usually in favour of using his part-time spinner, but in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 he has relied mostly on his top five bowlers- Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadjea- to do the job and these five have taken 63 of India’s 65 wickets for the tournament so far. By comparison, Australia have made too many changes in their bowling department; Josh Hazlewood made for Pat Cummins who made way for Hazlewood who made way for Xavier Doherty who made way for Cummins who made way for Hazlewood.
4) 70% of the 42,000 tickets have been bought by Indians
The tickets for the semi final game of Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has been sold out. It is interesting to note that 70% of the 42,000 tickets have been bought by Indians, which is close to 30,000 Indian fans! This overwhelming majority of Indian support has made the Australian skipper make a distress call to its supporters to come and watch the game in the stadium.
World Cup 2015: India vs Australia ‘Mauka Mauka’
By Aniket Arora
