Defeated Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq is of the view that India has an advantage of playing their World Cup semi-final against Australia on a Sydney Cricket Ground pitch that will assist spinners.
"I think both the sides are playing good cricket; India have got a good chance because they are playing in Sydney and both their spinners are playing well.
"Their batting is very good, so it will be a tough game for Australia," said Misbah, who bowed out of One-day international cricket following Pakistan's six-wicket defeat to Australia in Adelaide on Friday, when asked to pick his favourite for the second semi-final.
"What I noticed from our game against England in the warm-ups at Sydney is that it was helping spinners. Then, Imran Tahir and JP Duminy got wickets in the quarter-final against Sri Lanka. So India can take advantage of that," he added.
Australia, he felt, will miss a good spinner in Sydney.
"Australia played good cricket in the whole tournament and they are a very balanced team, but, playing in Sydney, they could miss a good spinner, because what I have seen is that spinners get good success there.”
Australia have left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty in their 15-man squad but he is not at par with India's Ravichandaran Ashiwn and Ravindra Jadeja, he felt.
He said India's batting and bowling have adapted well in Australia.
"India were having problems in their bowling when they played a tri-series in Australia before the World Cup but their bowlers learned and adapted to the conditions and they are now bowling very well.
"Their batting is very strong and they play spin well so they will have no problems at the SCG. Overall, I think it will be a big challenge for Australia."
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