Fiery bowling, explosive batting to be on display today

India clash with Australia in second quarter-final.

AHMEDABAD:

India go into their World Cup quarter-final against defending champions Australia today ready to face some fiery fast bowling but on the back of an 80-run victory over West Indies in Chennai.

India won their last group game but Australia had their 34-match unbeaten run in world cups ended courtesy a four-wicket defeat by Pakistan. However, West Indies fast-bowler Ravi Rampaul took five wickets, including Sachin Tendulkar’s, and has revived the debate about India’s ability to handle short-pitched bowling.

Australia almost have no choice but to see if the old cliche holds true given an attack built around the fast-bowling trio of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson.

Johnson to target Sehwag

To top it off, Johnson is looking forward to taking on Virender Sehwag having claimed the opener’s wicket nine times from 18 games.

“He seems to struggle with that. It’s always a good challenge to bowl to someone like that, he doesn’t really use his feet but he can hit the ball hard,” said Johnson.

Opener in doubt

But if Johnson is raring to go at Sehwag, a decision on the opening batsman’s inclusion is likely to be made before the start of the game. Sehwag missed India’s final group match after suffering an allergic reaction to a painkilling injection in his right knee.

India captain MS Dhoni said his situation was an issue.

“We’re taking a call on Viru before the start of the game,” said Dhoni. “All the others are fit. It’s really good to have Sehwag opening the innings, because he can make most of short-deliveries.”

However, Sehwag has never made a One-Day International (ODI) century in 27 matches against Australia and averages a modest 22.65 against the world champions. If Sehwag is ruled out, India are set to retain Suresh Raina.

Yuvraj, the saviour

Yuvraj Singh, whose century against West Indies followed on from a trio of fifties earlier in the tournament, said it was clear where Australia’s bowling strength lay. “They have pace and get wickets with pace. We have to be prepared for it and we’ll see what happens in the quarter-final.”

A lot at stake for Ponting

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who has got his players’ backing, but been criticised from various other quarters, will go into the match having had to fend off speculation that he was ready to quit. The loss against Pakistan will still be haunting him.

If these worries were not enough, the right-handed batsman has managed just 102 runs in six matches so far with the last ODI century coming over 13 months ago.

“I might watch the 2003 [final] video. Especially if you are struggling, it doesn’t hurt to do that every now and then,” said Ponting. “But I know that the team and I have both played our best games when we’ve needed to.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2011.