After almost six weeks of huge totals, shock wins, heartbreaking losses, records and controversies, the group stage of the Cricket World Cup ended on Sunday.
India topped the group stage with a perfect nine from nine – and backed it up in Wednesday’s semi-final win over New Zealand.
Australia overcame back to back losses to open the tournament to win seven straight and surge into the semi finals – but weather could ruin their World Cup dream.
The five-time champions take on South Africa in the second semi-final in Kolkata on Thursday after the two teams ended on 14 points each in the group stage.
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WHEN ARE THE SEMI FINALS
India beat New Zealand on Wednesday, November 15.
Australia clashes with South Africa on Thursday, November 16 at Eden Gardens from 7.30pm
HOW TO WATCH
Both semi finals will be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and streamed on Kayo.
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WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS
Wet weather is predicted to hit Kolkata on Thursday and Friday.
According to Weather.com (as of 3pm AEDT Thursday) rain is possible at around 12pm local time (5.30pm AEDT) but it should only be very light showers and should clear up by 2pm local time (7.30pm AEDT) – when the match is scheduled to start.
More showers are possible throughout the evening, but again should only be minimal.
BBC’s prediction has the likelihood of any rain at just 10 percent from 12.30pm to 1.30pm local time (6pm to 7pm AEDT), rising to 51 per cent by 5.30pm local time (11pm AEDT).
The India Meteorological Department issued a warning on Monday that a “cyclonic circulation” had entered the south Andaman Sea from the Gulf of Thailand.
“Under the influence of this system, a low pressure is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal by Tuesday,” a statement read.
That low pressure cell did subsequently develop, but there’s good news for cricket fans.
The India Meteorological Department on Thursday morning predicted the weather for Thursday and Friday to both be “Light rain with thunder likely.”
According to most predictions, the intermittent showers should allow plenty of play to get underway.
If the semi-final cannot be completed on Thursday due to weather, the reserve day on Friday will be activated, with the match resuming from where it left off. But Friday is likely to see more consistent showers and plenty of time could be lost.
However, South Africa will progress through to the final if the match ends as a washout.
Australia lost a one-day series in South Africa followed by a series defeat to India ahead of the World Cup.
They then suffered opening defeats at the tournament to the hosts by six wickets and the Proteas by a huge 134 runs.
Mitchell Starc said his side was following a familiar Aussie path of peaking at the right time in a World Cup.
“Whilst we didn’t start the way we wanted to, we’ve certainly had good contributions from individuals along the way and we find ourselves in another World Cup semi-final,” he said on Monday.
Australia have been the most successful team in the World Cup with title wins in the 1987 (India), 1999 (England), 2003 (South Africa), 2007 (West Indies) and 2015 (Australia and New Zealand) editions.
They were runners-up in the inaugural edition in 1975 and then again in 1996, reached the quarter-finals in 2011 and lost to eventual winners England in the 2019 semi-finals.
Starc, who was part of Australia’s 2015 ODI and 2021 T20 World Cup triumphs, said the experienced team will not be overawed by Thursday’s occasion at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens.
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“It’s been quite busy, the guys who were in Africa as well, I think we counted it’s like our 15th flight since we’ve been in India,” Starc said on the gruelling schedule.
“For the guys who were in Africa as well, it’s been a jam-packed 10 or 11 weeks. It’s a World Cup, it’s what we play for. We seem to be peaking at the right time which Australia tend to do in tournament play.”
Australia have beaten South Africa twice in World Cup semi-finals in 1999 and 2007. Both times they went on to win the title.
Starc, 33, and a veteran of 119 one-day internationals, was the leading bowler in the World Cups of 2015 and 2019 with 22 and 27 wickets respectively.
In all, he has 230 wickets in the format.
He and fellow quick Pat Cummins have 10 wickets each in the tournament so far with teammate and leg-spinner Adam Zampa leading the bowling charts with 22.
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