According to the organizers, Indian fans have cornered 70% of the tickets available in the 42,000-capacity stadium.Clarke reacted in horror at the prospect of taking on India in an away-atmosphere at home and tweeted an SOS: 'I call on Australian cricket lovers to paint the SCG gold on Thursday. We need your support #goldout.' His team members promptly retweeted the skipper's message: it might, of course, be futile as none of the Indians is likely to part with his or her prized possession. Indeed, with Air-India declaring full flights direct to Sydney and other Australian cities till the weekend, there might well be many more Indians than Australians even on the streets.Indian fans don't just make up the numbers; they are rated among the noisiest crowds in sport.
It's doubtful the Aussie supporters will resort to their favourite pastime of sledging fielders near the boundary in such a scenario. "We were talking about it at dinner," said allrounder James Faulkner, referring to crowd support. "The last game we played here felt like that (an away game). The passion of Indian fans for their team is sensational."
It is no great surprise to see Australia at the semi-final stage. It is a home tournament. They are the No.1-ranked side in the world. They entered the campaign fresh from victory in a tri-series. In some ways it is not surprising to see India there either, for they have the experience in such big tournaments, and their batting line-up is full of talent. But in that same tri-series they failed to win a match, and their turnaround has been absolute. Unlike Australia, they are as yet undefeated.Australia enter this match as favourites, but that is only down to the home conditions. Only once in 13 completed ODIs have Australia lost to India at the SCG. That was seven years ago. It is more than three years since they have lost a one-day international to anyone at the SCG.Let's see who's gonna beat the heat.
It's doubtful the Aussie supporters will resort to their favourite pastime of sledging fielders near the boundary in such a scenario. "We were talking about it at dinner," said allrounder James Faulkner, referring to crowd support. "The last game we played here felt like that (an away game). The passion of Indian fans for their team is sensational."
SCG will have 45,000 people and majority will be Indian fans,” Clark said.
I call on all Australian cricket lovers to paint the SCG gold on Thursday. We need your support. #goldout
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 20, 2015
It is no great surprise to see Australia at the semi-final stage. It is a home tournament. They are the No.1-ranked side in the world. They entered the campaign fresh from victory in a tri-series. In some ways it is not surprising to see India there either, for they have the experience in such big tournaments, and their batting line-up is full of talent. But in that same tri-series they failed to win a match, and their turnaround has been absolute. Unlike Australia, they are as yet undefeated.Australia enter this match as favourites, but that is only down to the home conditions. Only once in 13 completed ODIs have Australia lost to India at the SCG. That was seven years ago. It is more than three years since they have lost a one-day international to anyone at the SCG.Let's see who's gonna beat the heat.
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