Australia v India LIVE updates: Connolly out for duck as Aussie bats struggle against India

Shami gave the Aussies some trouble in that first over.

Head scooped up a ball that just went past the bowler’s hands while Connolly had a hefty drive and miss at the last ball of the over.

Hardick Padaya to bowl the second over.

Australia are 0-2 after one over.

Travis Head will face the first ball with new partner Cooper Connolly at the non-strikers end.

The pitch is a bright, light beige colour.

Mohammad Shami to open the bowling for India.

It’s game on in Dubai.

“If they aim to get 260, that would put an enormous amount of pressure on India later in the game,” Former Australian skipper Aaron Finch said during pre-game broadcast.

“This is a great opportunity for Nathan Ellis to lead the Aussie attack, who he has done for a while now, and for Australia to take on India who are the best team in the world right now.”

There has been plenty of talk about Australia’s missing stars from this series and the teams lack of game time after two rain-effected matches from three group games.

But Finch is confident this side can do the job, as long as they don’t go too hard the spinners and lose quick wickets.

Steve Smith has won the toss and he will bat first.

“It looks a pretty dry surface, we will need to get some runs on the board,” Smith told broadcasters.

“The pitch looks drier and should take some turn.”

White ball cricket is often about the powerplay at the start of an innings, and the death overs at the end, but Australian captain Steve Smith believes it is the overs in the middle that will decide the World Cup semi-final against India.

Australia go into the Dubai lair dry pitches and migrant fans have turned into a home-from-home for India, with Rohit Sharma’s team seeking to snare them in a web of spin.

India used four tweakers in their last match against New Zealand, the quartet taking nine wickets, five going to the recalled Varun Chakravarthy.

They may field the same four-pronged attack on Tuesday (8pm AEDT) even though five of the 12 wickets fell to pace when the same wicket was used for the India-Pakistan game on February 23.

Australia’s spin options look light by comparison which puts the emphasis on a batting line-up that has so far made 465 runs for six wickets at more than nine-an-over.

But that was in Pakistan, in different conditions. For geo-political reasons all India’s game are being played in Dubai.

“The whole square block is pretty dry,” said Smith. “There’s going to be some spin looking at the surface.

“Having spoken to the groundsman, (it’s) a dry surface (which has) had a lot of traffic.

“I think for us the game’s probably won and lost how we play the spin, particularly in the middle overs, the way we get through there. It’s going to be a challenge.

“There’s different ways we can attack the game, whether we want to bat or bowl first tomorrow, but playing the spinners in the middle overs is going to be crucial for us to have success in this game.”

Australia have lost Matt Short, who bowled seven overs for 21 against Afghanistan besides opening the batting, so may draft replacement Cooper Connolly straight into the XI. But Smith raised another possibility.

Agreeing Australia may play two front-line spinners he said: “We’ve got Tanveer Sangha in our squad who’s got some quality skill.

But he added: “Glenn Maxwell is probably better than a part-timer, Travis Head’s done well when the conditions suit, Marnus (Labuschagne, who took 2-41 against England) can bowl some overs. So, we’ve got a lot of part-time options that could certainly play a role on here and a couple of front-liners as well.”

And what about Smith’s own leggies’, he was asked. That raised a quizzical look.

“Me to bowl? I hope not.”

Smith added the team had enjoyed their time in Dubai having in flown in on Saturday, gambling on an Indian win against New Zealand. If the Black Caps had won they would have had to head back to Lahore.

“We guessed right in the end. It was ideal to be here and have a couple of days’ preparation. Had we stayed and waited for last night’s result we would have had to have flown here today (Monday) and play tomorrow, not get a chance to train on the surface or get used to the conditions.

“We had a little reset and a chance to have a couple of days outside of a pretty strict bubble in Pakistan with the security and stuff. It’s been nice to just have a couple of days chill here, a bit of training. A couple of guys have played some golf and wandered around.

“We’re well prepared and looking forward to it. We feel like we’re playing nicely. Two good teams going at it. It should be a good contest.”

AAP

A storied cricket rivalry will add a new chapter when India and Australia square off in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday.

And it comes with controversy.

While Pakistan is hosting the tournament, India has not gone near Pakistan, refusing to go there. Instead, India has played all of its games in Dubai amid security concerns. This has caused debate about India’s advantage from playing in one venue that has marred the buildup to the knockout rounds.

The Indian government denied permission for the cricket team to travel to its neighbour. The latest refusal came on the heels of viable security threats – tensions on the border, particularly in the northern region of Jammu and Kashmir.

While Pakistan went to India for the 2023 Cricket World Cup, the last time either team toured the other was 12 years ago.

Because the tournament couldn’t be played without India’s financial muscle, all of its games are in Dubai, including the semifinal and the final on Sunday, if it qualifies. If not, the final will be in Lahore.

It has caused scheduling and travel headaches for the Champions Trophy.

Bizarrely, Pakistan had to give up hosting rights and go to Dubai to face India, and lost.

South Africa and Australia flew to Dubai last Saturday because it wasn’t clear which team would take on India in the semifinals. Only after India beat New Zealand on Sunday in the last group game did South Africa return to Pakistan late Sunday with New Zealand to prepare for their semifinal on Wednesday in Lahore.

The preferential treatment has put India in an advantageous position to many eyes.

“If you can stay in one hotel, practice in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it’s definitely an advantage,” South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen said on Thursday.

But India captain Rohit Sharma shrugged off talk of any advantage.

“We are very much aware of the conditions here, but we don’t know which pitch is going to be played,” Sharma said. “This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don’t play so many matches here. This is new for us, too.”

Dubai was chosen because its the largest of the UAE’s three cricket grounds; it seats up to 30,000 fans compared to Abu Dhabi (20,000) and Sharjah (16,000).

India played its three group games at Dubai International Cricket Stadium — on different pitches — and won them all.

“They are in Dubai for a reason,” Pakistan coach Aqib Javed said. “If you play on the same pitch or ground, you will have an advantage. But we didn’t lose because they stayed in the same hotel or played on the same pitch. Neither did they play 10 matches there.”

Depleted Australia has defied the odds

The India-Australia semifinal is a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad where Australia upset India and sent the country into mourning.

This time, Australia isn’t at full strength. It is missing its front-line pace attack and opening batter Matt Short has been sidelined by a quad injury, and replaced by left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly.

Connolly’s selection pays respect to Dubai’s spin-friendly pitches. But Australia doesn’t normally bank heavy on spin, and has defied the odds to reach the semifinals under Steve Smith.

India, however, unleashed a fourth extra spinner on New Zealand, and they shared nine wickets as they defended 249 with ease. Whether India stays with four spinners or goes back to three is its main question.

“Even if we want to play four spinners, how can we squeeze (them in),” Sharma said. “If we don’t, then we don’t.”

AP