Australia go into Sunday’s Cricket World Cup final in the unfamiliar role of heavy underdogs as they take on an India side that have swept all before them so far in the competition.
The hosts have won all ten of their matches en route to the final in Ahmedabad, including a six-wicket victory over the Aussies at the start of the group stage last month.
Pat Cummins’ side have roused themselves from back-to-back losses to begin the campaign with a flawless run since - but can they complete a remarkable turnaround to claim their sixth World Cup?
Here’s what they must get right to spoil India’s party…
New-ball wickets
After a quiet group stage, Mitchell Starc was back to his potent best in the semi-final win over South Africa, bowling a terrific new-ball spell in tandem with Josh Hazlewood that reduced the Proteas to 24 for four and ensured the likes of David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen were forced to play more patient innings in the middle order.
Making similar early inroads will be vital against an Indian side whose batting depth beyond a ridiculously in-form top-five is still yet to be properly tested. Neither Suryakumar Yadav nor Ravindra Jadeja have spent much time in the middle in this tournament, while beneath that pair the tail is lengthy.
ANOTHER ONE!
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) November 16, 2023
Two wickets in quick succession, brilliant from Starc and Hazlewood 🌪️
South Africa 24-4 😬 pic.twitter.com/c0Nq8ZX92g
Be bold and be prepared to lose the final trying to win it
Australia persisted with a conservative engine room featuring both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne against South Africa in anticipation of a low-scoring contest. Should India bat first a post a hefty total in Ahmedabad, though, they will surely need something more explosive and bringing Marcus Stoinis back in favour of Labuschagne may be a risk worth taking.
Similarly, for all there is no obvious weak-link in India’s attack, Australia must look to give Rohit Sharma an early headache by taking down one of only five frontline bowling options available to the Indian skipper, with Mohammed Siraj perhaps the likeliest target.
Make experience pay
That Australia as a nation have won this competition five times is less relevant than the fact that every player likely to be involved on Sunday has won a world title in at least one format. In fact, in David Warner, Cummins, Smith, Hazlewood and Starc they have five players who have managed it in all three.
India, by contrast, have just one world champion in their ranks: Virat Kohli, from the 2011 World Cup. The World Test Championship loss to Australia at the Oval earlier this year has at least given most of this squad their first taste of a final of sorts, but a one-day showpiece on home soil in front of more than 100,000 fans is, clearly, a different kettle of fish.
