For someone who began his career as a promising leg-spinner, STEVE SMITH has certainly made the grade as an outstanding right-handed batsman. Over the last couple of years, the leg-spin has taken a definite back seat while his batting has blossomed by leaps and bounds.

Earmarked as a special talent quite early in his career Smith, 25, has already led Australia in Test cricket when Clarke was sidelined by fitness issues. By the age of 21 he was in the Test, one-day and Twenty20 teams, picked on promise and quickly showing the composure of a seasoned professional.

Certainly the best batsman in the current side, Smith made decisive contributions in this World Cup, more so against Pakistan in the Adelaide quarter-final when calmly ensured Australia didn’t make a mess of their moderate of 214.

Smith is rated as one of the best players against spinners. Australia will be relying heavily on their Mr Dependable in today’s semi-final against India on a SGC pitch that historically aids slow bowlers.

One of only three captains to retain his post from the 2011 World Cup, MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI is definitely the most scrutinised cricketer from India.

A safe wicket-keeper, a batsman capable of changing gears rapidly and a cool-headed captain, Dhoni is everything that a team needs. Under his leadership, India have won the top prize in all formats — the No1 Test ranking for 18 months starting December 2009, the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the World Twenty20 on his captaincy debut in 2007.

However, post the 2011 World Cup triumph, which Dhoni sealed with a timely 91 and his patented helicopter shot, reality struck, and an ageing team kept losing in unfamiliar conditions, forcing him to quit Test cricket weeks before the 2015 World Cup after the Australia series.

Having surpassed the iconic Sachin Tendulkar as the highest-earning Indian sportsman, Dhoni remains the advertiser’s dream and a poster boy. With their title up for grabs, India hope their talismanic skipper leads them into a second straight final.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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