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India's second clash in the 2019 ICC World Cup brings them face-to-face with Australia. Traditionally, Australia has been one of India's toughest hurdles in global tournaments, often coming out on top, save for that pivotal 2011 quarter-final defeat. Here is a detailed look at how they compare to the Indian side heading into this game.
Location: Kennington Oval, London | Date: June 9th | Start Time: 3:00 PM ISTVenue: Kennington Oval, London
Date: 9th June
Time: 3:00 PM IST
Roster: Aaron Finch (Captain), David Warner, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan LyonSquad: Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Lyon
Team Analysis: Australia boasts a highly balanced squad across the board. The reintegration of star batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner has significantly boosted their firepower. Additionally, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh have been hitting their stride in recent ODIs. On England's flat tracks, captain Aaron Finch is expected to be a particularly menacing presence at the crease.Team Overview: Australia is a well-rounded team in all departments. The return of their premier batsmen, Steve Smith and David Warner, has only made the team stronger. Batsmen like Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh have been in terrific form in ODIs of late. Skipper Aaron Finch will be a dangerous batsman to contain on the flat pitches of England as well.
Looking at their bowling attack, they possess elite pace options. Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff are lethal with the new ball, while Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jhye Richardson provide the necessary precision and power during the death overs.
Having world-class all-rounders like Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis gives Australia a distinct tactical advantage. Their only real vulnerability is a lack of depth in the spin department; Nathan Lyon isn't as dominant in limited-overs cricket as he is in Test matches. While Adam Zampa is their primary spin threat, the strength of their fast bowlers generally covers this gap, and Maxwell can chip in with useful off-spin when needed.
Key Challenges for India: Australia is a threat in every department. Their recent ODI series victory over India proved just how potent this squad is. India will find them incredibly difficult to break down, especially since Khawaja and Marsh performed so well in their previous encounters. The return of Smith and Warner only adds to the pressure. Furthermore, India's top order—often vulnerable to swing and high pace—will struggle against the opening duo of Starc and Behrendorff.Major threats for India: Literally everything! They won the ODI series against India recently and that summed up the strength of their squad. India will find Australia a tough nut to crack. Even batsmen like Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh were highly successful against them in that series. And now, the return of Smith and Warner is bound to increase their troubles even more. The new ball pair of Starc and Behrendorff will prove to be tough to handle for India’s top order, who are susceptible to swing and pace.
Match Forecast: This will likely be India's hardest test, perhaps second only to facing England. Australia possesses the versatility to neutralize India's key strengths, making them the favorites to walk away with a victory in this encounter.Predicted Outcome: India will find them tough to beat, probably the toughest side after England. Australia have the ability to nullify all of India’s strengths and come out on top. So, they have a high chance of winning against India in this match.
Written by: Prasenjit Dey