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Clarke confident with weight of expectation

Mar 26, 2015
Michael Clarke in the nets in Sydney. Photo: AAP

Michael Clarke in the nets in Sydney. Photo: AAP

New Zealand say they don’t care who they face in the World Cup final but if they value history, India should be a massively preferred option over Australia.

The world No.4 ranked Black Caps haven’t played a one-day international on Australian soil for six years.

On their 2009 visit they beat Australia by six wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – the venue for Sunday’s final – lifting their winning percentage at the cavernous ground to 35 per cent (eight from 23) from all completed ODIs.

That figure is just 18 per cent (four from 18) against Australia but 100 per cent against India, having beaten them in both MCG meetings, in 1981 and 1986.

Against Australia on Australian soil they win less than a third of the time (18 from 56) while it’s 50-50 against India at neutral venues (15 from 30).

New Zealand have a superior record in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth than in Melbourne, but struggle more in Sydney and Hobart.

If world No.2 India win today’s semi-final in Sydney it will end a 12-match winning streak on home soil for top-ranked Australia.

India started their tour of Australia more than four months ago and are yet to register a win over Michael Clarke’s men since landing in Adelaide for the first Test.

Dhoni has helped engineer a major turnaround in form, with the defending World Cup champions undefeated in the current tournament.

But Australia remain title favourites – as they have been since downing South Africa in a five-match ODI series last November.

“Expectation is there because we’re the No.1 ranked one-day team in the world,” Clarke said.

“The reason you have expectation is because you’ve performed.

“There’s been a lot of talk about pressure and expectation, but that’s what comes with … playing sport at the highest level.

“You want to perform against the best and I think the boys will be fine.”

Clarke added “there is no greater expectation than what you put on yourself”.

India superstar Virat Kohli wasn’t so sure.

“Australia at the SCG with a full house in a semi-final clash, they are under massive pressure to win this World Cup,” Kohli told the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s website.

“We have nothing to lose.

“People are expecting them to win and they know that as well.”

Clarke has come a long way since breaking down in the first Test against India, but the captain was reluctant to talk about his own path to Thursday’s knockout fixture.

“I haven’t thought too much about it to be honest,” Clarke said.

“Every time we walk out on to the field for Australia is extremely special … (Thursday) will be no different.”

Both sides go into the clash unchanged.

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