Australia captain Steve Smith says that his team is confident that he may compete with India’s quality spin attack in his Champions Trophy semi -finals in Dubai on Tuesday.
The two teams will face the Dubai International Stadium at Remach of the 2023 World Cup finals won by Australia in Ahmedabad.
Australia defeated rivals England by five wickets in their initial match, but their next two matches were released due to rain in Pakistani cities of Rawalpindi and Lahore.
India won three to three wins in Group A, with a win over New Zealand on Sunday with four spinners on a difficult pitch.
Varun Chakraborty took 5-42 in Dubai to promote hopes of selection in his second one day international.
Smith told reporters on Monday, “Yes, I mean, not only Chakravarti, I think the rest of his spin is also quality.”
“So I think for us, the game is probably won and lost how we play their spin, especially in the middle overs, the way we reach there. This is a challenge.
“I think something is going to be spin, look by it. Yes, we have got it to compete … We have found some ways about it about which we can go about it.”
World Champions are recalling many major players, including Fast Baulers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc for injuries.
But Smith said that he could call part -time spinners including Travis Head and Manenas Lebasschagan, supports him on a track to support Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, believing that “a dry surface looks”.
“We have found a lot of part-time options that can definitely play a role here and also with some front-liners,” he said.
Aggressive head
Cooper Konoli, a batting all-rounder who bowls the left-handed spin, has joined the squad as a replacement for the Matthew Short, who exited the rest of the tournament due to a thigh injury.
Both Australia and Group B winners South Africa flew from Pakistan to Dubai, without knowing who they would play in the semi-finals, for which the line-up was decided after the India-New Zealand match.
India has been slammed to play all its games at one place in Dubai, while other teams have shut down between three Pakistani cities and the UAE.
India refused to play in the host nation Pakistan for political reasons.
But Smith carried out any alleged loss. “We finally estimated correctly,” Smith traveled to Dubai in his team.
“We had a little reset and a very tough bubble had a chance to have a few days for a few days, I think, with security and accessories in Pakistan. It is good to chill here for just a few days, a little training here.”
Australia defeated India by six wickets in the 2023 World Cup final, in which Head hit an unbeaten 137.
“I mean, every time you play in a big game, there is pressure,” said Smith of Head.
“But, as we know, the Travis has stood in many people in the past. And, you know, he saw very touch on the second night against Afghanistan.
“I am sure he is looking to come out from here and playing in the same way that he has played for a long time, with good intentions, good aggression.”
South Africa faced New Zealand in the second semi -final in Lahore on Wednesday.
