Australia’s trip to Dubai has proved an inspired move as they’ve discovered they’ll be facing tournament favourites India there in the Champions Trophy — but Steve Smith’s team will know all the odds are still stacked against them.
The Aussies decided to fly to the UAE from Lahore on Saturday, knowing it was possible they’d have to jet back again to Pakistan on Monday, depending on the result of India’s final group match with New Zealand.
But after India’s 44-run win on Sunday in the Dubai International Stadium sealed a date with Australia in Tuesday’s first semi-final at the same venue, the decision for the world champs to take the early flight and get in some crucial preparation was completely vindicated.
If they had only taken the three-hour flight to the Gulf on Monday morning after finally learning of their schedule, the Australians might not even have had time to practice there before being pitched into the semi less than 24 hours later.
But Rohit Sharma’s side will still be hot favourites to avenge their 2023 World Cup final defeat in the rematch as their refusal to play any matches in neighbouring Pakistan has ensured they’ve played all three matches – and now won all three – at the Dubai arena.
Conditions there are very different, slower and trickier, to those that Smith’s inexperienced side has experienced in Lahore, where they beat England and then were dominating against Afghanistan before rain forced an abandonment. Their other match in Rawalpindi against South Africa was washed out.
New Zealand, who will be playing at their fourth different venue in Lahore in Wednesday’s other semi-final against South Africa, found the transition to play in Dubai too tricky against India’s spinners as they could muster only 205 in their chase.
Rohit was enthused about the prospect of another blockbuster with their old rivals as he said: “It’s going to be a good game, Australia we know has a rich history of playing ICC tournaments well, we do understand that.
“It’s going to be a great contest, we’re all looking forward to it.”
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au