SYDNEY (Sporting Alert) — Australia won the toss captain Michael Clarke says the co-host will bat first in their World Cup semifinals against defending champions India at Sydney.
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Both captain, Clarke and India’s MS Dhoni, revealed that they will field unchanged teams for the clash as the battle to see who will face New Zealand in the final gets underway.
This means that David Warner and Aaron Finch will open the batting for the Aussies, will keep Shane Watson at No. 5 behind Steven Smith and Clarke.
Warner and Finch have been struggling to get Australia off to a good start at the tournament, but the home side is confident that can get it together against the mighty India.
The likes of Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner are also expected to play major parts with the bat for Australia, which have never lost a World Cup semi final.
They will face an Indian side, which have won 2 out 3 semis, but have beaten Australia just once in 35 years in a one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
They and will be hoping to earn the right to defend their title, this after winning all six of their games so far in the tournament.
Both sets of players, during the build up to this contest, revealed that there will be no holding back, including on and off the field battles, but noted that all this will be within a certain boundary.
The World Cup final will be held on Sunday in Melbourne and certainly, Australia would love to be there.
Australia Team
David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood
India Team: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (capt), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav
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