The National Times - Australia ready for India's spin challenge, says Smith

The two teams will face off at the Dubai International Stadium in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final won by Australia in Ahmedabad.

Australia beat rivals England by five wickets in their opening match but their next two games were abandoned because of rain in the Pakistani cities of Rawalpindi and Lahore.

India made it three wins from three in Group A with a victory over New Zealand on Sunday delivered by their four spinners on a tricky pitch.

Varun Chakravarthy took 5-42 in Dubai in only his second one-day international to boost his hopes of selection.

"Yeah, I mean, not just Chakravarthy, I think the rest of their spin is quality as well," Smith told reporters on Monday.

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

"I think there's going to be some spin, by the looks of it. Yeah, we've got to counter that... We've got a few options of ways we can go about it."

The world champions are missing several key players including fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to injuries.

But Smith said they could call upon part-time spinners, including Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, to support Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell on a track he believes "looks a dry surface".

"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," he said.

- Aggressive Head -

Cooper Connolly, a batting all-rounder who bowls left-arm spin, has joined the squad as a replacement for Matthew Short, who was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a thigh injury.

Both Australia and Group B winners South Africa flew to Dubai from Pakistan without knowing who they would play in the semi-finals, the line-up for which was decided after the India-New Zealand match.

India have been slammed for playing all their games at one venue, in Dubai, while other teams shuttle between three Pakistani cities and the UAE.

India refused to play in host nation Pakistan due to political reasons.

But Smith played down any perceived disadvantage.

"We guessed right in the end," Smith said on his team travelling to Dubai.

"We had a little reset and a chance to have a couple of days here outside of a pretty strict sort of bubble, I suppose, in Pakistan with the security and stuff. It's been nice to just have a couple of days chill here, a bit of training."

Australia beat India by six wickets in the 2023 World Cup final, with Head hitting an unbeaten 137.

"I mean, there's pressure every time you play in a big game," said Smith of Head.

"But, as we know, Travis has stood up in many of those in the past. And, you know, he looked in great touch the other night against Afghanistan.

"I'm sure he's going to be looking to come out here and play the same way he's played for a long time, with good intent, good aggression."

South Africa face New Zealand in the second semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday.

C.Blake--TNT