World Cup Diaries: What India Will Have to Watch Out for Against Australia

Sitting here in Adelaide watching the third quarter final and every ball that's gone by has slowly and steadily signaled Pakistan's fall (Except for Wahab Riaz's spell). As I start writing this piece Shahid Afridi has just done what he does best, promise the best, give hope but eventually falter like only Afridi knows. The man called Boom Boom spelt doom doom for the quintessential unpredictable team in the world - Pakistan by doing exactly what Misbah Ul-Haq, Umar Akmal had done just a few overs before him. So with 15 overs left in Pakistan's innings and the entire Australian innings left, it would be fair to assume, this match is done and dusted. This with a Pakistani journalist sitting next to me and saying 'aap bade zaalim ho, kuch bhi ho sakta hai'. That translates to 'you're very cruel, anything can happen'. Yeah right!

Let's not wait for that 'anything to happen' and do what any sensible cricket follower would do - look ahead to India's Semi-Final vs Australia now. That's the big one. For many, the final before final. With a bird's eye view from the press box, watching the game gives you a whole new perspective in comparison to when you watch it on the idiot box.

It's from here that one can spot the subtle strengths of the Aussies. For James Faulkner, Australia kept 70 percent of its players behind the striker. The field only changes for any batsman who has notched up a few runs already. For example, currently, Starc is bowling to Pakistan's number 7 Wahab Riaz and they have a backward point, 3 slips, and a third man. But Starc made a mistake. Pakistan's talent is usually sleeping, not applying itself. Starc's banter to Riaz gesturing 'can you see the ball?', only awakened Riaz. The game has come alive. Australia has given away four over throws. They just don't do that, more so in a World Cup quarter final.

But India, will have to decide whether they would like to fight fire with fire or ignore what Sunil Gavaskar once called 'Australia's bread and butter' - the art of banter. Recent history suggests Virat Kohli and gang will not be bullied. In fact, Australia might just get a taste of their own medicine even before they hand it out themselves. That's the aggressive brand of cricket the new young Indian team has been playing.

NDTV's experts Brian Lara and Ian Chappell both picked Starc as their number one bowler this World Cup. Starc is going to be one to watch for. He's got the shorter one, the yorker, the around the wicket cramping one, and a few others, all at extreme pace. Don't give him a wicket and you've earned yourself a win.

Now to the man called the big show in Australia. Glenn Maxwell hasn't batted just yet, but that is something we all know about. India will take on Australia in Sydney, the venue where Maxwell maximized it earlier this World Cup against Sri Lanka. In that game, Maxwell, smashed a 100 off 51 balls. It was his maiden ODI century. The monkey was off his back. It was the second fastest century in World Cup history. Against India, Maxwell will be taking on bowlers, he is most familiar with. In the IPL, Maxwell has scores of 95 off 43 balls and 90 off 38 against R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohit Sharma. That's 30 overs that India will bowl come the Semi Final. What makes matters worse for India is that this time Maxwell will be playing in conditions he knows even better than the one's in India.

Maxwell with the bat is a handful but currently he has a leg up while bowling too. In the ongoing game vs Pakistan he has already taken the wicket of their most important player, their rock, Misbah-ul-Haq. He also got the better of Pakistan's most talented under performer Umar Akmal. Dhoni and company will be tempted to take him on but maybe they should be tempered in the way they approach Maxwell's bowling in Sydney?

Michael Clarke would be the next to watch out for. He is aggressive, smart and probably only second best to Dhoni in the list of best Captains in the World. Sydney is his territory. Against Pakistan just a few moments ago he was stubborn enough to bring back Maxwell after Misbah plundered two sixes off the big show. It worked.

Clarke has had more injuries than most playing international cricket and made it back to the Australian team before the World Cup in record time. It shows his intent, determination and hunger to become the first Australian Captain to win the World Cup at home.

With the bat Clarke can dent the Indian ship but not destroy it. The danger lies in allowing Clarke to play the anchor role around which the likes of Warner, Watson and Maxwell can explode.

Of all the Australian cricketers nobody is more familiar to the Indian Cricketers than Shane Watson. Sure he might be struggling with his form and confidence but confidence is not something he should miss against India. He has played two months of cricket in India every year for the last 7 years. He can be a danger like no other and he is due a big one.

The ultimate reason to be cautious and at the top of their game for India could be the fact that this Australian team is carrying an immeasurable, unfathomable hurt of the loss of their colleague and friend Phillip Hughes. Before Australia's group game against Sri Lanka in Sydney on the 8th of March, Michael Clarke said 'It's on my mind every day. It doesn't matter where I play. I wear an arm band every game with Hughes' initials on it'. This is the Semi Final of a World Cup at the same ground where the unfortunate incident occurred that led to Hughes's death. Hughes' teammates will be inspired to an unimaginable level, to make sure they don't lose in Sydney.