After a Feel-Good Semi-Final, Australia and India Set for Contrasting Duel

On one side of the Tasman this week, New Zealand and South Africa played out perhaps the most thrilling game in World Cup history, one defined not just by the theatre it staged, but also by the grace, humility and sportsmanship it witnessed. 

On the other side of the Tasman, James Faulkner was asked whether there'd be tension and sledging in Australia's clash with India in the tournament's other semi-final. 

The essence of his response? It's inevitable. 

"I think there always is in the game, if there isn't you've got problems," Faulkner said of the likely verbal battle against India. "It's the nature of the game, it's a semi-final, it's cut-throat. There's going to be words said and it's going to be a really tough contest. Neither team will be backing down."

Faulkner's first point, the one that said "if there isn't you've got problems," is a totally Australian mentality. The country's national side has always been defined by a certain aggression. A combativeness. A dismissiveness of others. 

Remember, Australia's national mascot wears boxing gloves.

More recently, India have developed a similar character. Collectively, Indian teams, as well as being vastly talented, have grown feisty, chippy and in your face. Even more so when they've come up against Australia.

Since the infamous Sydney Test of 2008, this rivalry has become many things: compelling, lucrative, fierce and see-sawing. 

But it isn't what you'd call pleasant. Or uplifting. 

And Thursday's semi-final isn't likely to be any different. 

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As such, we're in for a very contrasting experience on Thursday in Sydney to the one so universally cherished in Auckland earlier this week. 

New Zealand's unforgettable victory over South Africa will forever be remembered for Grant Elliott's six. For Daniel Vettori's cool head. For Brendon McCullum's fearlessness. For everything about AB de Villiers. For the Proteas winning hearts in defeat. For joy. For tears. 

For the drama, the theatre and the spectacle. 

But most of all, for that image. 

Australia vs. India isn't likely to replicate any of that. They've spent a whole summer already chipping away at each other. Even in Adelaide, a Test essentially held in the honour of the late Phillip Hughes boiled over.

These teams are both bullish. Both bordering on arrogant. Both full of antagonists, David Warner and Virat Kohli standing at the head of each queue. 

And these aren't teams that let their bats do the talking. That's what mouths are for.

ESPN Cricinfo's Jarrod Kimber summed it up best: 

"

This is a clash of strategy. And of methods, culture and politics. This is a new-era rivalry. Not as ancient as the Ashes, or as passionate as India-Pakistan. Two countries that are so different, yet share rampant egotism, high self-opinion and a belief that being born in their country is superior to other births. This brings together a belligerent bunch of brats, bullies and braggers.

This is the "battle of the bullies".

"

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Possibly fuelling the tension further on Thursday will be a crowd at the SCG that could potentially be a 50-50 split—an extremely rare occurrence in international cricket. 

India's travelling fanbase in Australia during this World Cup has been immense, so much so that Faulkner even believes the visitors' support could outweigh the hosts' in Sydney. 

Captain Michael Clarke appears to have recognised the possibility, too, publicly urging Australian fans to help create a gold cauldron for the semi-final.  

Should Clarke get his wish, and should India's support rise to the challenge, the environment at the SCG is going to feel frenzied. 

And keep in mind, these teams would likely lock horns and fight if you put them on a rural ground overlooked by a handful of sheep. 

It might just mean Thursday's victors will be the team who can best compartmentalise the game's two battles—the verbal one and the one between bat and ball. 

Thus, it will, as always, be compelling viewing. Fierce. See-sawing.

Just don't expect it to be anything like the semi-final that preceded it.