India contest is a mini-final for us – Australian Coach

Tim Nielsen, Australian Coach, said, "His team be eager to meet India in the World Cup final and will be treating their quarter-final with them in Motera on Thursday as a mini-final". He said that we were aware the atmosphere at Motera would be thrilling. It is a great challenge for us to play in front of India's home ground in Ahmedabad. We have no fear at all, it is a knockout stage and we are fully prepared for it.

India has played Australia in fifteen 50-over format clashes at home in the last five years and Australia won nine of those matches whereas India got triumphs in just two games. Both teams have lost a game each in their group stages World Cup matches. India will be hoping home advantage that can be lifted them to a victory, and it is the only one impediment for us, Nielsen mentioned. He said that he remembered that Australia faced the pressure when they played World Cup at home in 1992, and playing at home is a huge factor for them.

The media and the public analysis will also be tough one for Hosts as you can expect India to have most of the pressure on them. They will have to reply all the questionnaires regarding the wicket where they would play, about their team line-up etc.

India's terrifying batting line-up has shown iffy styles in their last two games. In both clashes, the top order set a firm start but their middle and lower order collapsed spectacularly. In Nagpur while playing with South Africa, they lost 9 wickets for 29 runs and then against West Indies, in Chennai, they derailed for 50 runs for sake of 7 wickets. However, we cannot afford to let India getting off a heavy start and after they collapse as before, we would try to get early wickets.

Australian batting has also improve itself, as Ricky Ponting and Cameron White both are struggling for form and the team was smashed to 176 all out against Pakistan. Nielsen said, "We need to get a platform for scoring quickly, the grounds are vast, if you can succeed it, then when the ball is changed after 34 over, you have another option to elevate run rate".

Australia have an outstanding record against India in World Cup matches, they defeated them seven times in nine clashes and hoping to maintain their momentum on their quarter-final.