4,00pm: SMITH HAS A HALF CENTURY: The anointed future of Australian cricket Steve Smith brings up his 50 from 53 balls with 6x4s. He almost played a false stroke on 49, but has been flawless otherwise. It is his fourth half century of the World Cup. The side will be banking on him notching up 100 here or even more. Australia brought up the 100th run for the loss of one wicket at the end of the 19th over. Steady going.
Steven Smith runs past India’s Mohit Sharma on his way to his fourth half century of the
Steven Smith runs past India’s Mohit Sharma on his way to his fourth half century of the World Cup. Picture: AFP
3.44pm: REHYDRATE. Time for drinks at the SCG and the Australians are 1-89 from 16 overs. The DJ has now played Leaps and Bounds twice. Could someone tell him that we are playing at the SCG and not the MCG?
(And here are the lyrics to Leaps and Bounds if you’re interested)
Steve Smith is closing in on a half century with 45 from 43 balls while Aaron Finch has got over his earlier troubles and pushed on to 28 from 46.
Smith is really showing his class out there. He is a batsman who knows where runs are on a field and the easiest way to get them. Not for him bludgeoning, he is all placement and timing and has two 3s to go with his 6x4s.
With Finch out of sorts he has taken a leading role.
3.36pm: You can watch video of David Warner’s early exit here:
Early exit for David Warner
Early exit for David Warner
3.26pm: It wouldn’t be an afternoon of sport without the WAGS.
Kyly Clarke (Back Row L), Michael Clarke’s wife, Dani Willis (middle row R), Steve Smith’
Kyly Clarke (Back Row L), Michael Clarke’s wife, Dani Willis (middle row R), Steve Smith’s partner and Candice Falzon holding Ivy Warner (Front R), fiance and daughter of David Warner at the SCG.Picture: Getty Images.
3.16pm: Here’s why it will still feel like a home match for Australia. Because the SCG pitch itself is so familiar. The crease, the backdrop to the bowlers, the Members and Ladies Pavilions … just the whole scene is one in which they’ve stood countless times before.
Steve Smith has wandered out and looked comfortable from the get-go. He’s blocked a four … you’re in good and delicious nick when you’re blocking fours.
We saw a fascinating thing in the SCG nets the other day. Not all of Australia’s batsmen are especially keen to face Mitchell Johnson in the nets.
Smith walked straight in and they had a 20-minute stoush that displayed all of Smith’s skill. Johnson was bowling fast and occasionally short. Smith gave as good as he got. He pulled one of Johnson’s bouncers with enough force for the ball to nearly fly straight through the nets and roll towards Surry Hills. Johnson grinned and applauded.
Even in the nets, Smith was fidgety, hyperactive and industrious. He shirked nothing. No different today. he’s called for a new bat. In Ian Chappell’s day, they’d use the same bat all summer. The one magic wand. Smith will have used about ten this season. Nothing wrong with Smith’s new blade …he pulls his next two balls for four. Smith is unbeaten on 30 from 26 balls. Finch is 11 from 27. Australia are 1-56 after ten overs.
Steve Smith has looked comfortable from the start. Picture: Mark Evans
Steve Smith has looked comfortable from the start. Picture: Mark Evans
3.10pm: Gideon Haigh’s piece on Australia and India’s torrid reunion is worth reading here:
GIDEON HAIGH: Torrid reunion for Cup couple
3.04pm:
2.46pm: OUT! Warner has belted out the national anthem like he’s sitting in the Victor Trumper Stand with a cold one in his hand. Aaron Finch has been out of sorts. One of his remedies has been to get on the drink with Brian Lara. Well, by getting on the drink, we mean they talked through his batting slump in a social setting. Finch has poked at his first ball and missed it. He’s poked at his second ball and hit it.
Kohli comes running in from cover to clap and talk and get himself involved. India see Finch as a weakness. They’ll remind him for the foreseeable future. Warner plays and misses his first ball from MD Shami … and Kohli nearly does a cartwheel at square leg. It’s the sort of high-octane atmosphere that will get Warner’s juices flowing. Or get him out. Forgetting the emotion and stakes for a second .. the pitch looks a belter and Australia will be wanting a total with a three in it. They’ll want the three to be the first number.
Leadind edge from David Warner and he’s out caught off the bowling of Umesh Yadav. Pictur
Leading edge from David Warner and he’s out caught off the bowling of Umesh Yadav. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Umesh Yadav celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of David Warner. Picture:
Umesh Yadav celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of David Warner. Picture: Getty Images.
Warner punches Umesh Yadav’s first delivery through mid-off for four. A controlled and authoritative push. He pulls Yadav for six over midwicket. Just a flick, really. India are asking for trouble if they think they can pepper Australia with short balls. Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz could do it because he was operating at 150km/h and he was, quite frankly, a man possessed.
India’s quicks aren’t 150km/h and so far, they’re only in possession of unthreatening pies. Warner is looking great. Finch, less so. And then proving that cricket is a funny old game to anyone who isn’t on the end of the joke, it’s Warner who departs for 12. A leading edge from Yadav flies straight to Kohli. It’s fair to suggest that Kohli is happy to accept the chance. Australia are 1-15 in the fourth over.
Aaron Finch (R) and David Warner (L) run between the wickets. Picture: AFP
Aaron Finch (R) and David Warner (L) run between the wickets. Picture: AFP
2.27pm: Who’s saying what on Twitter about the semi-final: “There is More life on Mars than this grassless SCG pitch! minimal lateral movement for bowlers #Runs#AUSvIND#STOPSTARTCRICKET.” – Former Australia fast bowler Damien Fleming.
“Why am I so anxious so nervous looking forward to this match. Last time I felt like this I had WI colours on.
#worldstage#gloriouscricket.” – West Indies great Brian Lara.
“Let’s go boys! Big day @scg The whole country is behind you #Believe#GoGold@CAComms@MClarke23@stevesmith49.” – Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt.
“I hear @scg is going to be grassless/dry/spinner friendly .. Sounds perfect conditions for @CricketAus@cricketworldcup@ICC@BCCI#CWC15.” – Former Australian batsman Damien Martyn.
“An hour and a half to go.. All set here in Miami..gonna hav to pull an all nighter!!Thank God I don’t play tomm#INDvAUS#WontGiveItBack.” – India tennis star Sania Mirza in Miami where she is playing in a tournament.
2.18pm: The Teams:
Australia: D Warner, A Finch, S Smith, M Clarke, S Watson, G Maxwell, B Haddin, J Faulkner, M Johnson, M Starc, J Hazlewood
India: R Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, A Rahane, S Raina, MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, M Shami, M Sharma, U Yadav
2.05pm: TAKEOFF! So … blue skies at the SCG, glorious blue skies. Blue shirts. Loads of blue shirts. But the suggestion that this’ll feel like a home game for India … please. It’s the SCG.
Australia are curled up in their own familiar dressing room. The shed from which they’ve gathered so much success. The plaque to their fallen little mate Phillip Hughes is on the wall.
There might be a lot of Indian supporters here, and they’re going to make your ears bleed, but this is such an iconic Australian arena that there’s only one team feeling like they’re playing on their home patch of dirt. Families and friends of the Australian players are here. They don’t get that in Mumbai.
Famous Indian cricket fan Sudhir Kumar Gautam leads the charge outside the ground. Pictur
Famous Indian cricket fan Sudhir Kumar Gautam leads the charge outside the ground. Picture: Rohan Kelly.
PETER LALOR: Final fight of an Indian summer
GIDEON HAIGH: Torrid reunion for Cup couple
WILL SWANTON: Old rivals are living on the sledge
MIKE ATHERTON: Chokers tag shouldn’t haunt Proteas
We saw Wallabies captain Michael Hooper out in the car park. Dude was on a motorbike. We thought it was a somewhat stylish way to arrive at the cricket. But Hooper was leaving. Dude! Have you lost your mind? Come back!
There’s no grass on this pitch. None. Nada. Nought. We’ve watched Australia train this week. We’ve watched India. It’s our firm belief that Australia would win this match nine times out of ten.
In the nets, Australia’s fast bowlers have been so superior to India’s. No real contest on that front.
Australia seemed to have about eight batsmen training with absolute aggression and commitment while India might’ve had two. Australia’s fielding sessions were so much sharper We know India’s running between the wickets is the equivalent of a High School XI. Nine times out of ten, this is Australia’s match while Michael Hooper fangs it up to the northern beaches.
Michael Clarke tosses the coin. Tosses it halfway to the boundary. The coin falls his way … “We’ll have a bat, thank you,” he says. And that might be the end of the pleasantries for a while. David Warner will open the batting with Aaron Finch. Keep an eye on Virat Kohli on the field. He’ll be in Warner’s face. And in his ear.
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Cricket World Cup: Australia v India live updates
