Today the world of cricket may witness one of the games great epics.Few semi-finals have contained 2 very strong and evenly matched sides.It is reminiscent of West Indies and Australia final in 1975,West-Indies Pakistan semi-final in 1979,Australia-England final in 1987 and England.Pakistan final in 1992.The game is more like a world cup final.My head says Australia,my heart says India.If India possesses the same heart of the team of the 1983 world cup then India would win.Overall I think it is 60/40 in favour of Australia.
Points in Aussie's favour.
1.Australia has superior mental tenacity big match temperament,match-winning killer instinct and professionalism.Playing a semi-final is a totally different cup of tea than than playing a league game.Australia has never lost a world cup semi-final.
2.Australia has a superior bowling attack in the pace department with a Mitchel Starc and Mitchel Johnson.Hazelwood will also boost the Aussie attack.
3.Australia has greater batting depth with even Mitchel Starc capable of making a good score.
4.Australia has a better record in recent times winning 14 out of 15 games against India.In world cups it has a better record.
Points in India's favour.
1.It has played better than any side in all departments of the game in this world cup.Unlike Australia India has remained unbeaten in the competition and won it's games with greater conviction than New Zealand.No team has been as organized or have stuck to the task as well.India has bowled out every opposition side in this competition.They have stuck to the task more than any team.India has never played as well even in world cups they have won in 1983 and 2011.
2.The flat pitches like what we may possibly have at Sydney would be in favour of India.The Sydney conditions may well favour the Indian batsmen.Playing in Australia for over 3 months has made them superbly acclimatize themselves to the Australian conditions.
3.India has the best batting line up in terms of class with Virat Kohli.Rphit Sharma,Shikar Diwan,Suresh Raina,Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja.No team has organizaed it's batting as well as India.In the bowing India has consistently stuck to accuracy and length or line more than any team in the competition.
4.Australia may be hard -pressed against the Indian spinners like Ashwin.
5.The crowd is 60%Indian which will boost India.
6.Historically India has beaten Australia numerous times in a world cup.
In the quarter -final match against Pakistan Australia exposed some chinks in their armour particularly Michael Clarke and Shane Watson against Wahab Riaz.India does not posess the pace bowling variations and agression of Pakistan or Australia.On the other hand Australia proved how their bowling attack can spring out like a tiger leaping out of an Ambush in the game against New Zealand.It is not as strong an Aussie teams like in 2003 or 2007 or even 1999 but it is still the most professional team of the competition.