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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

India play Australia at Sydney in the Semi-finals ....

They used to say – when India plays Pakistan, entire India stops working ! – when Sachin is at the crease, even trains stop !!! – tomorrow, it is no Pak – but India Australia Semi-finals ~ and after 6 WCs, there is no Sachin Tendulkar – the whole India would wait with bated breathe before Television sets encouraging men in blue.

In the popular Shankar film “Indian” – one of the hit songs was ‘telephone manipol sirippaval ivala –Melbourne malarpol melliya magala” – though the lyrical reference was to Melbourne, it was elsewhere !! – it is Sydney that is the venue of the match on 26th Mar 2015.

Some people collect souvenir spoons when they go travelling, Aussies are used to picking up World Cups at will from 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007.  Only India and West Indies have won the cup more than once.   Indians  are the defending champions at this tournament; Australia were for the past three campaigns. These are teams that expect success.

In 2011, at Ahmedabad, India did win comfortably – Shane Watson and Brad Haddin opened then – now they would come much down in the order in the powerful Aussie line-up.  Sydney is not exactly the ground for India.  We have won only once out of 13.  That win came in the Commonwealth Bank Series - 1st final on 2nd Mar 2008.  In that ODI 2688 Aussies made 239/8 in 50 with Hayden top scoring 82.  Sachin Tendulkar made a sound 117* - Rohit Sharma made a brisk 66.

Way back in 1987, at Chepauk chasing 271 [big total those days] – India had a great start – Sunil Gavaskar fell at 69 making 37; Krish Srikkanth at 131 (making 70) – then the comeback man [debut in ODI and recalled to International cricket !!]who was a strokeless wonder earlier earned ‘six hitting Sidhu’ scoring 73 with 5 sixers.  India from 229/3 slipped badly and with one ball remaining Steve Waugh clean bowled Maninder Singh to win by a single run. 

Come on India !!!
With regards – S. Sampathkumar


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