We're almost getting to the end of the 2015 world cup, and the best has indeed been saved for the last. It is a rare thing for the top four ranked teams to make it to the semi-finals without any hiccups, which goes to show that when you're playing Down Under, there is no substitute for quality. The eyes of the cricketing world will be on Eden Park and the Sydney Cricket Ground come the 24th and 26th of March, and this is how the semi-finals are shaping up.
New Zealand vs South Africa, Auckland - Superman vs Men In Black:
One of these two teams will finally end the long wait and make it to a world cup final. The Black Caps have been unbeaten so far, but haven't looked invincible. They managed the narrowest of victories against Australia, and their comprehensive victory against the West Indies highlighted some of the weaknesses in their bowling, but they're playing at home, which is a priceless asset.
The Proteas, the perennial chokers, managed to turn the most evenly matched quarter-final into the most one-sided one with a brilliant bowling performance from Imran Tahir, supported well by J.P Duminy and the fast bowlers. However, the performance of spinners is not something they will be able to count on in the semi-final, as Eden Park's dimensions will make them liable to concede many boundaries.
But, luckily for the Proteas, they have one of the best pace attacks in the world. The swing and ferocity of Dale Steyn and the bounce and pace of Morne Morkel could make life very tough for the Kiwis. The likes of McCullum, Guptill, and Williamson will be tested.
The toss, as it has been throughout this world cup, will be the key. In fact, it would be a very good toss to lose, as batting first in New Zealand has not worked out so well for teams in this tournament. But since this is a big knockout game, I don't think either captain will look to bowl first after winning the toss. The Kiwis especially, will gain confidence from their batting performance against West Indies, and won't hesitate to bat first.
It is here that South Africa's opportunity lies. Their speedsters need to take full advantage of the new ball. AB de Villiers needs to go in with a test match mindset, because not taking wickets early on means carnage in the last 15 overs in this world cup, especially on the small grounds of New Zealand.
New Zealand just need to keep doing what they're doing, as they have a golden opportunity to make it to the final after getting knocked out in the semis on six occasions. They have the upper hand going into this game.
Australia vs India, Sydney - Best vs Best:
This is the big one. The top two ranked teams will fight it out for a spot in the final, where both of them will be overwhelming favourites regardless of who they face. In other words, this is the final before the final.
Expert opinions of this match, as usual, have been extremely myopic. While India's supreme form in the world cup so far is a good thing, it doesn't automatically make this an even contest. Nor does the success Australia have had against India in the last few months make them the favourites.
It must be kept in mind that in the tri-series before the world cup, India's embarrassing losses were to England and not Australia. They gave Australia a tough fight in one of the matches, and the other was washed out, which means that as far as ODI cricket is concerned, Australia did not inflict any major 'mental scars' on India on this tour.
But that does not mean that India do not have an inherent weakness against Australia. The head to head record reads 40-67, and in Australia, it becomes 10-30. More important than any of these numbers is something that cannot be measured, which is the fear of playing Australia in their own backyard.
While the toss will tilt the balance towards the team batting first, technicalities do not matter that much in this match. If India forget the fact that they're playing 'the mighty Aussies,' they are the favourites, because they have looked the strongest in the world cup so far. The likes of Raina, R Sharma, and Dhawan, who are susceptible to pressure, need to just look at it as another match and raise their bats.
This is India's greatest test, possibly even bigger than the 2011 world cup final. If they win, it will be a moment of history, for it could change Indian cricket radically.
Let the battle of the best begin.
New Zealand vs South Africa, Auckland - Superman vs Men In Black:
vs
One of these two teams will finally end the long wait and make it to a world cup final. The Black Caps have been unbeaten so far, but haven't looked invincible. They managed the narrowest of victories against Australia, and their comprehensive victory against the West Indies highlighted some of the weaknesses in their bowling, but they're playing at home, which is a priceless asset.
The Proteas, the perennial chokers, managed to turn the most evenly matched quarter-final into the most one-sided one with a brilliant bowling performance from Imran Tahir, supported well by J.P Duminy and the fast bowlers. However, the performance of spinners is not something they will be able to count on in the semi-final, as Eden Park's dimensions will make them liable to concede many boundaries.
But, luckily for the Proteas, they have one of the best pace attacks in the world. The swing and ferocity of Dale Steyn and the bounce and pace of Morne Morkel could make life very tough for the Kiwis. The likes of McCullum, Guptill, and Williamson will be tested.
The toss, as it has been throughout this world cup, will be the key. In fact, it would be a very good toss to lose, as batting first in New Zealand has not worked out so well for teams in this tournament. But since this is a big knockout game, I don't think either captain will look to bowl first after winning the toss. The Kiwis especially, will gain confidence from their batting performance against West Indies, and won't hesitate to bat first.
It is here that South Africa's opportunity lies. Their speedsters need to take full advantage of the new ball. AB de Villiers needs to go in with a test match mindset, because not taking wickets early on means carnage in the last 15 overs in this world cup, especially on the small grounds of New Zealand.
New Zealand just need to keep doing what they're doing, as they have a golden opportunity to make it to the final after getting knocked out in the semis on six occasions. They have the upper hand going into this game.
Australia vs India, Sydney - Best vs Best:
vs
This is the big one. The top two ranked teams will fight it out for a spot in the final, where both of them will be overwhelming favourites regardless of who they face. In other words, this is the final before the final.
Expert opinions of this match, as usual, have been extremely myopic. While India's supreme form in the world cup so far is a good thing, it doesn't automatically make this an even contest. Nor does the success Australia have had against India in the last few months make them the favourites.
It must be kept in mind that in the tri-series before the world cup, India's embarrassing losses were to England and not Australia. They gave Australia a tough fight in one of the matches, and the other was washed out, which means that as far as ODI cricket is concerned, Australia did not inflict any major 'mental scars' on India on this tour.
But that does not mean that India do not have an inherent weakness against Australia. The head to head record reads 40-67, and in Australia, it becomes 10-30. More important than any of these numbers is something that cannot be measured, which is the fear of playing Australia in their own backyard.
While the toss will tilt the balance towards the team batting first, technicalities do not matter that much in this match. If India forget the fact that they're playing 'the mighty Aussies,' they are the favourites, because they have looked the strongest in the world cup so far. The likes of Raina, R Sharma, and Dhawan, who are susceptible to pressure, need to just look at it as another match and raise their bats.
This is India's greatest test, possibly even bigger than the 2011 world cup final. If they win, it will be a moment of history, for it could change Indian cricket radically.
Let the battle of the best begin.
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