Cricket World Cup 2015: Prediction and Latest Odds Ahead of Australia vs. India

Co-hosts Australia and defending champions India will meet in the second semi-final of the 2015 Cricket World Cup on Thursday in Sydney, a repeat of their 2011 quarter-final clash that ultimately launched the Men in Blue to the title.

Pool A winners New Zealand have already qualified for the final, taking a close win over South Africa on Tuesday, and fans should expect a similarly fierce battle on Thursday between arguably the two favourites for the title.

Rob Griffith/Associated Press

The Baggy Greens enter the contest as slight favourites, thanks to a fantastic record at the Sydney Cricket Ground—13 wins over India in 14 tries, per The Guardian's Dileep Premachandran—but India have yet to lose a match this tournament and will be looking forward to Syndey's dry, spin-friendly pitch.

Here are the latest odds, per Oddschecker.com:

• Australia (4/9) vs. India (24/10)

Home-field advantage has been a powerful tool for Australia throughout the 2015 World Cup, but according to Telegraph Sport, that advantage may not be as great as you'd think come Thursday:

India are mad about their cricket, and in 2011, everything finally came together. Three years prior, the Men in Blue had finally scored a win over Australia at the SCG, in large part thanks to Sachin Tendulkar's century.

That was followed by their first win over the Aussies in an ODI World Cup quarter-final, and on Thursday, history will once again be in the Baggy Greens' favour—India have never beaten Australia in a semi-final.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann knows full well his team is in for a serious challenge, via NDTV:

Both teams enter the match looking like complete, deep sides. Australia have three batsmen sporting a batting average over 50—India have four. Six Indian bowlers currently have an economy rate under five—Australia have four, including in-form Mitchell Starc and Michael Clarke, who has bowled just five overs.

As shared by the event's official Twitter feed, Starc and Mohammed Shami come in as two of the top bowlers in the tournament based on current form:

Fans are expecting plenty of runs, but the key to Thursday's match will be bowling—specifically spin. Australia have done most of their damage with pace so far, and the surface at the Sydney Cricket Ground is tailor-made for spin, something India do well. The Baggy Greens have even turned to Shane Warne to help them with their preparations:

The legend himself thinks his compatriots should still be favourites to go all the way this year:

We've seen a lot of teams rely on late runs to build their total during this year's World Cup, often doubling their scoring between overs 35-37 and the end of their innings. But with David Warner and Aaron Finch opening for the Aussies and Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli batting early for India, early wickets will be key.

Thursday's semi-final should be just as good as Tuesday's, with India and Australia expected to provide fans with one of the top spectacles we've seen in a long time. And whether the co-hosts meet again in the final or we see a battle of the unbeatens, the storylines heading into the final will be fantastic as well.

Australia have history on their side, but India haven't lost an ODI in ages and have the advantage when it comes to spin.

Prediction: India book a trip to the final after a close, hard-fought match.

All stats are courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo.

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