Nail-biting world cup semi-final against Australia keeps Indians on the edge

Cricket fans across India stay glued to their television screens as the four-time-champions Australia take on 2011 title holders in the second semi-final of ICC World Cup on Thursday.

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and chose to bat first in their World Cup semi-final against India at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

Both sides were unchanged for the contest to decide who meets the other co-hosts New Zealand in the final at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Indians are relying heavily on the gods to get through the semi-final. Special prayers are being performed across the nation to help India continue its winning streak.

"The Indian team is going to perform well and will win the match. It will outshine all its performances today and will win," said a cricket fan, Biswajit Mukherjee, in Kolkata.

After seven straight wins, India is starting to resemble the team that won the sport's greatest spectacle four years ago.

The 'Cricket Ganesha' temple in Chennai is making sure that the Indian team wins the face-off with Australia. The temple, constructed by cricket fans, has idols of Lord Ganesha in different cricket postures.

"Today we are watching a great second finale. Definitely the Cricket Ganesha is blessing us. We have worshipped and we have done puja by the heart as usual, so I don't think why we are not winning. We are winning convincingly today," said supporter M. Venkatesh.

In Jharkhand, cricket fans came calling at the temple on Thursday morning to offer prayers for the success of the Men in Blue.

Australia was unchanged for the first time in the tournament after deciding to retain a third specialist pace bowler in Josh Hazlewood, who took 4-35 in the six-wicket quarter-final victory over Pakistan.

The team members are- Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith, Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc,Josh Hazlewood

While Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav are playing for India.