Daily Cricket News

Five things India must do to beat Australia

New Delhi: Playing in the subcontinent, Australia not the Australia of old, a World Cup semifinal at stake and a chance to fulfil Sachin Tendulkar's dream – India can't ask for better incentives to show defending champions the door in the quarterfinal of an event that the Aussies have literally turned into their backyard in the last 12 years.

Though Australia's knack of hitting the bull's eye at the sight of a big kill hasn't deserted them, it's not looking as pungent as it did in 2003 and 2007. That's where India needs to hit, and hit hard.

Sehwag must click

Virender Sehwag never walks out with the dagger hidden in his cloak and it's pivotal to India's semifinal dream that he slits the Aussies like he did the Bangladeshis in the inaugural game. We know he wants to bat 50 overs but even if he stays for half of that length, Australia will be taken care of.

Open with spin from one end

Better late than never! That's what Dhoni did against the West Indies, opening the bowling with R Ashwin after surrendering to the voices raised at the off-spinner's non-inclusion. The Indian skipper should continue with that tactic on two counts: first, Australia's indecisiveness against spin and second, no other pacer except Zaheer living up to the challenge. And he doesn't have to look beyond Ashwin – who bowled all his overs in the powerplays at a miserly economy rate of 4.10 – to press a spinner into service as Zaheer's partner with the new ball.

Use Zaheer more with the older ball

India’s handicap on the fast-bowling front has been badly exposed in this World Cup. In that situation, Zaheer – the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament and a master of the reverse-swing – has to be used more with the older ball. The Indian skipper also gave an inkling of that in the game against West Indies. Dhoni held back eight overs of his most potent weapon until the 30th over, which meant Zaheer could bowl at least two overs with the scuffed-up ball before the mandatory change of ball after the 34th. And then he can return from the 40th over once the changed ball too has gone through wear and tear.

Fight fire with fire, bring in Sreesanth

Whatever situation Australia be in, rest assured they will come out hard at the Indians. And that's where the fire in the belly will count. While Australia have never been short of that, it has always been in short supply for Team India. The answer to that could be S Sreesanth. The suggestion might raise a few eyebrows but it can't be denied that if Sreesanth can get his skill and brain to sync, he can douse the Aussies with his spark.

Don't think too much about batting powerplay

Much has been said and written about it and India's dismal show in those tricky five overs, which led to their repeated collapses in the group stage. But India don't need to strategise about it and instead should think that if they play the rest of the 45 overs as well as they can, these five will automatically fall in place.