Dhoni 038; Co need another Kingsmead kill

It8217;s not much about their smart, semi-formal look, or the different hair-styles that each have developed so consciously, but the Australians have always been aware of how to present themselves when the times came.

This Twenty20 tournament has forced them to work their way through for sure; their hesitancy with this format and the serious work required 8212; it8217;s not the fun games any more, breaking the monotony between Test matches and ODIs 8212;- have surmounted with their shock loss to Zimbabwe and Pakistan. But they have come back with a trademark bang, crushing Sri Lanka by the maximum chase margin.

Moving up a different path through last week India, too, have been convincing, if not clinical, with performances alternating between bat and ball. Now suddenly it8217;s India versus Australia for a spot in the Twenty20 final.

The hype that was built forcefully has now started to hit with force.

The two teams have been playing at breakneck speed and have had little time to understand, read or analyse the progress tapes of their rivals. They needed the day off to take that deep breath, rest their tired bodies to get up next evening to see how well their intention of batting well, bowling well and fielding well, goes. Also, the element of luck in the game remains huge.

Today, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir looked over their shoulders when the Australians arrived at the hotel to wink at Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, affording a smile.

In these evening conditions, this Kingsmead contest shouldn8217;t be more different than any of the last four encounters here. India have the privilege of knowing the conditions first-hand, and skipper MS Dhoni has been great in calling the coin correctly and getting to bat first. He will need that ability one more time at least, because the Indian seam attack, though lacking the searing pace of the Aussies, has the ability to look into the eyes of the Australians with the green tinge on.

Between the two good seam-up attacks, it will remain the ability of batsmen on either front to negotiate a match-winning score.

India8217;s best chance of making a big score lies in exploiting the likes of Mitchel Johnson, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke and even Nathan Bracken, though subtle changes in pace might be troublesome aspects. The Australian middle-order has been going through bouts of inconsistency and inactivity through some easy wins and that should provide India with a hint of why they should hurry through the middle overs.

There has been a couple of injury-breaks in the two ranks; Shane Watson has been sent home while Ricky Ponting is struggling with his hamstring he has been declared fit, though.

India, meanwhile, has a limping Piyush Chawla with his ankle unsteady, and Dhoni with a strain on the left hand side of his lower back.

Yuvraj is fit now. 8220;Yuvraj had a problem with his elbow but he should be fit for the next match and is likely to replace Kaarthick,8221; Dhoni said.

The good news is that Dhoni, too, should stand in the starting line-up.

Kaarthick will have to make way in an otherwise unchanged line-up from the last match. That, as Dhoni put it, was a 8220;luxury8221; of having a specialist 8216;keeper 8211; and Kaarthick made sure he was noticed.

India8217;s fielding has shown up nicely as much as its intensity of young minds and energetic bodies in dealing with crunch situations.

This Indian team, says Irfan Pathan, fears none. The Australians never had However, there is a small bit of doubt around Ponting8217;s availability. Both have peaked in their steep climb up. And both stand in with even chance in this game of fluctuating fortunes.

ROAD TO SEMI-FINALS

PAKISTAN

First Round: Beat Scotland by 51 runs at Durban on September 12; Tied with India at Durban on September 14 India wins 3-0 in bowl-out.

Super Eights: Beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs at Johannesburg on September 17; Beat Australia by six wickets at Johannesburg on September 18; Beat Bangladesh by four wickets at Cape Town on September 20.

NEW ZEALAND

First Round: Beat Kenya by nine wickets at Durban on September 12; Lost to Sri Lanka by seven wickets at Johannesburg on September 15.

Super Eights: Beat India by 10 runs at Johannesburg on September 16; Beat England by five runs at Durban on September 18; Lost to South Africa six wickets at Durban on September 19.

AUSTRALIA

First Round: Lost to Zimbabwe by five wickets at Cape Town on September 12; Beat England by eight wickets at Cape Town on September 14.

Super Eights: Beat Bangladesh by nine wickets at Cape Town on September 16; Lost to Pakistan by six wickets at Johannesburg on September 18; Beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets at Cape Town on September 20.

INDIA

First Round: Abandoned with Scotland at Durban on September 13; Tied with Pakistan at Durban on September 14 India wins 3-0 in bowl-out.

Super Eights: Lost to New Zealand by 10 runs at Johannesburg on September 16; Beat England by 18 runs at Durban on September 19; Beat South Africa 37 runs at Durban on September 20.