Australia vs India: Players to watch

A place in the Lord’s final is on the line for Australia and India, as they meet in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup on Thursday.

The two will face off at The County Ground, Derby, a ground boasting plenty of familiarity for India having played four of its group games there.

That included its last must-win clash against New Zealand to reach the semi-finals, while Australia has yet to play at the ground - though it has continued to impress.

And the Southern Stars side does have the better head-to-head record against its last-four opponent, delivering an impressive eight-wicket win in the round-robin stage just a week ago in Bristol.

We’ve picked out two key players from each team who have excelled in the tournament so far and could have a major impact on Thursday’s result in the Midlands.

Australia:

Meg Lanning

She may have missed two games in the group stages, but that hasn’t stopped Australia captain Meg Lanning soaring her way to sixth in the run standings.

Her 328 runs in the tournament so far have come at a staggering average of 109.33, while a top score of 158 not out proved the showstopper in the thrilling victory over Sri Lanka.

The skipper also has good history against India, top-scoring with 76 from 88 balls the last time these two met when Australia cantered to victory by eight wickets.

But it’s not just with the bat where Lanning is destructive, leading her side from the front as captain and the world’s best batter in the format.

Ellyse Perry

Dominant with both bat and ball, Australia can at times feel it has an extra player when Ellyse Perry is on the park.

The best all-rounder in world cricket, Perry ended her group stage on scintillating form, registering five successive half-centuries as her side achieved six victories in seven to finish second in the standings.

That had her within six of the standings’ top spot by the group stage, while her canny pace is an important part of her armoury on its own.

Nine wickets have fallen her way already, including three for 47 against West Indies, while she also dismissed Poonam Raut and Jhulan Goswami to impress with the ball and consolidate her 60 not out against India.

India:

Mithali Raj

As the world’s highest run-scorer of all time, there’s no way you can take Mithali Raj lightly.

The ICC WWC saw her reach the mark and also become the first batter to 6,000 runs, overtaking Charlotte Edwards, and with 69 against the Australians, they know all about her capabilities.

With 184 ODIs experience doesn’t come any stronger than Raj’s, an asset which came to its conclusion in the vital quarter-final against New Zealand, leading from the front with a century for her side.

Eighteen years have passed since her international debut, with the batter seemingly in love with Derby – averaging 60.25 at the ground in the competition thus far.

Jhulan Goswami

She may not have picked up the wicket tallies as she is used to, but count Jhulan Goswami out at your peril.

With 190 wickets, the fast bowler has the most scalps in the format’s history, with the chance of becoming the first to reach 200 undoubtedly the point of motivation for the 2003 debutant.

Goswami has five so far in this tournament, including two against Sri Lanka, though her one for 14 against New Zealand was arguably the most important, going at less than three runs per over.

And the ICC Women's Player of the Year 2007 knows what it takes at knockout level – a fact that could prove crucial when she faces Australia.