India vs Australia, South Africa vs New Zealand -- Fantastic Four of Cricket World Cup 2015 All Set for the Bell
India will take on Australia while New Zealand will face South Africa in the two semifinals of cricket World Cup 2015. Here's taking a look at how the giants of international cricket rack up against each other.
After over a month of spirited and sensational cricket of the highest quality, cricket World Cup 2015 has identified its four vibrant teams standing tall. Defending champions India, four-time winners Australia, dominant New Zealand and determined South Africa deserve to be in the semifinals. All four have shown an insatiable hunger for crowning glory Down Under. (Kiwis Beat Windies)
While New Zealand will battle South Africa in the first semifinal in Auckland on March 24, India and Australia will face off in Sydney on March 26. Here's taking a look at how the teams made it to the semis and what it would take for them to go the distance in a bid to make the title theirs. (Australia Beat Pakistan)
India (2nd rank in ODIS)
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The defending champions have not lost a single match in this cricket World Cup. In fact, their unbeaten run in World Cups now stands at 12 and stretches back to the 2011 competition that India won in Mumbai. Runs have been amassed even as records have tumbled in a spectacular show of cricketing prowess. What has clicked most for this team though is their surprisingly effective bowling.
India have the distinction of having bowled out their opposition each time they have stepped out this World Cup. With 70 wickets from seven matches, the India bowlers - previously not known for their deadly skills -- are topping the charts. Mohammad Shami leads the wicket-takers and has been extremely effective with the new ball. He has hit the deck hard, got movement and taken to the Aussie conditions like fish to water. Little surprise then that opposition batsmen have drowned in the resulting splash.
What has helped Shami is that Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma have kept the pressure up from their ends. Even as the troika of Indian pacers have exerted pressure, spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have come in and chipped away at wickets. A lethal dose of pace and spin then, has left other teams praying - in vain - for some respite.
Batting has always been India's strength and the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina have all played match-winning knocks. What is a major boost is that even captain MS Dhoni has managed to spend time in the middle and delivered with the bat when needed. His knocks against West Indies and Zimbabwe, in particular, were pure gems. Up against the best bowling attacks ahead, his bat will have to do much of the talking, just in case the top-order fails to fire.
Players to watch out for:
Mohammad Shami: Seventeen wickets from six matches. He is in fine form and will test Aussie top-order which is not used to pace and bounce from Indians.
Ravichandran Ashwin: Twelve wickets from seven matches. He can be extremely economical and can leave Aussies frustrated.
Virat Kohli: 304 runs from seven matches. Has hit just one century in World Cup 2015 so far and would look to deliver against old foes in Australian team.
MS Dhoni: A lot will depend on his captaincy. With years of experience, the semis vs Australia may well be his biggest challenge yet.
Australia (1st rank in ODIs)
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The cricket World Cup co-hosts finished second in Pool A but that hardly reflects the fiery brand of cricket that the side has played. Under Michael Clarke's captaincy - for most parts of the tournament, the team has combined well with bowling, fielding and batting firing on all cylinders.
The four-time champions did lose a nail-biting contest against New Zealand in the leagues but have since picked themselves up well. In fact, the match against Pakistan in the quarters was the most that the side has been tested and even in that, Aussies won by six wickets and with almost 16 overs to spare.
The Aussies will face off against India - a team they have played extensively in the recent past. Memories of a whitewash against Men in Blue in December-January would count for little as World Cup semis are a different ball game altogether.
"The Indians have been here for long and they know the conditions very well," Clarke said after beating Pakistan in the quarterfinals. "They have been playing strong cricket and Dhoni has been leading them well. We expect a strong contest."
A rather modest Clarke however can be encouraged from two facts. Firstly, Mitchell Starc has been on a euphoric high and has been bowling torrid spells with effortless consistency. He has 18 wickets from the tournament so far and will duel with Shami for being the highest wicket-taker of World Cup 2015.
Secondly, Aussies bat deep. With Mitchell Johnson at No. 9, the Indians may not get their 'quota' of 10 wickets this time around.
Players to watch out for:
Glenn Maxwell: 301 runs from six matches at an average of 75.25. Has one century and two fifties so far.
David Warner: 288 runs from six matches. One century in World Cup 2015 so far - a sign that a long innings is due once again.
Steve Smith: 241 runs from six matches. Responsible batting can take game away from India.
Mitchell Starc: 18 wickets from six matches. Will be Australia's main pace weapon against India.
South Africa (3rd rank in ODIs)
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The Proteas are peaking at the right time. The side may have crashed to India in the league stages but the pain from that has helped them emerge stronger.
After finishing second in Pool B, the team dumped Sri Lanka out of the World Cup in the quarters. In what was a sublime display of cricketing might, clinical South Africa showed exactly why they are the team that can steal the thunder from others.
All eyes would be on captain AB de Villiers, who has scored 417 runs so far. If his unbeaten 162 off 66 balls against West Indies is an indication, it can be an electric semifinal indeed.
South Africa also have David Miller, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, who can dominate with the bat while bowling will once again revolve around Dale Steyn. The pacer has been relatively quite this World Cup but it takes a big stage to rouse a big-hearted player.
Imran Tahir will also be itching to use his spin to good use and add to his glittering tally of wickets. Of course, JP Duminy - who became South Africa's only bowler with a World Cup hat-trick - can spin his web of doom once again, as well.
Players to watch out for:
AB de Villiers: 417 runs from seven matches. Has one century and two fifties so far.
David Miller: 275 runs from seven matches with one century.
Imran Tahir: 15 wickets from seven matches.
Morne Morkel: 14 wickets from seven matches.
New Zealand (4th rank in ODIs)
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The only other team to remain unbeaten this World Cup -- apart from India - is New Zealand. Co-hosts of the tournament, the Black Caps have made the most of local conditions to display classy cricket through the league stages. If one felt the side peaked too soon, Martin Guptill's record 237* in the quarters vs West Indies blasted all doubts to smithereens.
Buyoyed by a massive win against West India at Wellington, Kiwis would now look stage an encore of sorts against the Proteas. Once again, home fans - this time in Auckland - will look to provide their heroes with the support they have deserved.
While all eyes would be on captain Brendon McCullum, Guptill has ensured that he will get enough attention too. He broke records en route to becoming the second highest ODI scorer and with two straight centuries this World Cup, would look for a hat-trick.
Of course, New Zealand have the bowling might to defend any total. The likes of Trent Boult and Tim Southee have repeatedly shown what the sound of timber is all about and will spearhead the attack in Auckland. With Adam Milne expected to support the pace duo and veteran Daniel Vettori trying to spin a web, it can be a good contest at hand in the battle for a place in the final.
Players to watch out for:
Martin Guptill: 498 runs from seven matches. He smashed 237 against the West Indies in the quarter-final.
Brendon McCullum: 269 runs from seven matches. The Kiwi captain has three fifties in the tournament so far.
Kane Williamson: 216 runs from seven matches with one fifty so far.
Trent Boult: 19 wickets from seven matches at an average of 14.63. Best figures 5/27.