Australian captain Steve Smith has expressed confidence following his team’s strategic preparations for their semi-final match against India in the ICC Champions Trophy. After securing their place in the knockout rounds despite the challenges of a rain-affected tournament, the team travelled to Dubai, hoping to avoid the stringent security restrictions in Pakistan.
Smith noted that the decision to leave early proved fortuitous, allowing the team extra days to acclimatise to their surroundings and practice on local pitches, something that would have been impossible had they waited for the results of other matches. “We guessed right in the end,” he explained, highlighting the importance of having time to prepare, especially because they were initially at risk of returning to Pakistan for just a short turnaround before playing.
The Australian squad had previously managed a single win in their group stage match against England but faced washouts against South Africa and Afghanistan. As they look ahead to their clash with India, Smith is mindful of the challenges presented by India’s formidable spin attack. He emphasised the need for his players to effectively handle spin in the middle overs, stating, “I think the game’s probably won and lost on how we play this spin… It’s going to be a challenge.”
With an injured Matt Short sidelined for the crucial match, Smith is yet to disclose who will take his place in the line-up, with Jake Fraser-McGurk being a potential candidate. Despite the injury setback, Smith is optimistic about his team’s readiness and is eager to compete against India, whose team has a reputation for a strong spin-heavy strategy.
Overall, the Australian side is now focused on their key objective of advancing in the tournament, and preparation in Dubai has set them up for what promises to be an exciting semi-final clash. Smith concluded by expressing their ambition to overcome India and progress further in the competition.