Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Good work by Steve Smith, he's come out and knocked the ball around so effortlessly. India bowled too many short balls to him."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

Now, can Ravindra Jadeja, the junior spinner, back up Ashwin's good work and keep a bit of pressure on Australia? The answer is yes - he coughs up two singles from a tight over.

Smith does however bring up yet another fifty - his fourth straight half-century - with a nudge into the leg side. His terrific purple patch continues. Hard to believe he batted at 8 when he came on the scene.

Image source, Reuters

Scyld Berry, Sunday Telegraph cricket correspondent and ex-Wisden editor:, external If India don't get the balls reversing or spinning soon, this will be the seventh World Cup semi-final that Australia have not lost...

Nitin Srivastava
BBC Hindi in Sydney

"Are we heading towards a 300-run total by Australia? That's the buzz at SCG as Smith and Finch consolidate. Got hold of India legend Sourav Ganguly. He says he's so tense that he can't even watch the game properly!"

India desperately need to build a bit of scoreboard pressure here and here is a man who knows how to do just that: off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. He makes an excellent start, daring to get the ball up above the batsmen's eyeline and being rewarded with a hint of turn. Just two singles from the over.

Early days of course, but Australia will have 300 in their sights after this impressive consolidation from Smith and Finch. Finch didn't look in the best of nick early on but India have helped him back into a bit of form here - Mohit provides the latest charitable contribution with a short, wide, slow delivery which the opener tucks in to, cutting for four past point.

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I think it was good for the game the way that New Zealand went through in the other semi-final. People like the way they play the game, and the way McCullum leads them."

Marc Potter: Listening to Aus/India cricket semi in rainy Auckland, who will we meet at MCG?

Aaron Finch has played second fiddle to Steve Smith so far in an uncharacteristically sedate innings but the opener possesses dangerous power in those meaty biceps, and he reminds India of it with a brutal drive through mid-off. Time for a drinks break and an autograph or two.

Image source, Reuters

Vikas Pandey
BBC Monitoring

"Indian TV channels and Twitter users are remembering India's impressive win over Australia in the quarter-finals of the 2011 World Cup. They seem to be taking confidence from the 2011 match to keep their spirits high as Australians consolidate after Warner's wicket. But Yuvraj Singh was the hero of that match and he is missing from the team this time. Will it make any difference? It's hard to tell at the moment."

Michael Vaughan
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Australia have started well - India have bowled too short to Smith, who's strong with the pull shot. Shami, Sharma and Yadav aren't quick enough on this pitch to be throwing it down halfway down on a regular basis. This isn't an Australian-style wicket - it's like an Indian wicket. I'm surprised Ashwin, who's their best spinner, hasn't been brought on yet."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

Mohit has been a real find for India in this tournament, claiming 11 wickets at a very tidy average of 22 through a deceptively dangerous brand of relentlessly changeable medium-pace. He's not offering much threat so far on this dry pitch, but he is proving hard to hit for boundaries. Five off his latest over, all in singles.

Allan Border
Ex-Australia captain on BBC Test Match Special

"A bit of risk involved there from Finch, they won't have seen a lot of Jadeja's bowling. But that's the modern way."

Comedian Andy Zaltzman:, external He brought Kohli on in 2011 QF too. Kohli hadn't bowled in 20 ODIs then.

Virat Kohli has been hooked after one over and now we're finally going to see some spin, courtesy of Ravindra Jadeja, who is sporting a very trendy half-shaved haircut. Will we see men going to the barbers with pictures of the India left-armer and demanding 'the Jadeja'?

Smith keeps the runs flowing with a three whipped into the leg side. Australia have recovered well here from the early loss of Warner.

Abhiram: Irrespective of the result, I hope Richard Kettleborough, the Howard Webb of cricket, does well today.

David, Spain: There's an altogether different feel about this semi-final. In Auckland, NZ won with panache and modest pride, while SA lost with emotion, but preserved considerable dignity. Aus v Ind seems to promise 'war by other means.' I really hope ill-nature doesn't bubble over.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

On Twitter:, external After a tidy start, India's bowlers have now decided to test the middle of the pitch.

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

The short ball is undoing a lot of India's early good work with the ball here. The pitch has lost its early zip and the back-of-a-length delivery is just sitting up and begging to be hit - this time it's Finch who obliges, clubbing Mohit through midwicket for four.

That last over, by the way, was Virat Kohli's first bowling appearance in 17 ODIs. Captain's hunch?

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Auckland

"When he's not at his best, as he hasn't been here, Aaron Finch has a 'heavy head', which means he plants his front foot and is forced to play across the line.

"That's in contrast to Steve Smith, who also gets across his stumps, but more deliberately. Smith's back foot moves first, meaning he has a better balance. He does leave his leg stump exposed, but, more often than not, whips the ball through the on side."

Image source, AFP

Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match Special

On Twitter:, external So why do few Aussies at the SCG? Did Indian fans shop early in anticipation? Or oz blase thinking they'd walk up and buy after Adelaide?