Six World Cup classics between Australia and India

2005 ODI World Cup final  

Australia's bid for a fifth World Cup title in the 2005 tournament in South Africa pitted them against a first-time finalist, India.

Belinda Clark's team had been dominant through the tournament, winning five of their seven round-robin games with their other two washed out, including their showdown with India.

Batting first in Centurion, Clark and Lisa Keightley departed cheaply, but a superb unbeaten 107 from first drop Karen Rolton and 55 from Lisa Sthalekar saw Australia to 4-215, a reasonable score given just six first-innings totals above 200 had been posted previously in the tournament.

Image Id: 7CEA701F8A944775AC70A01D5703C218 Image Caption: Lisa Sthalekar and the Blackwell sisters celebrate Australia's 2005 triumph // Getty

India – who, remarkably, were led by current captain Mithali Raj in that final while Jhulan Goswami took the new ball – struggled to build partnerships in reply.

Opener Anju Jain top-scored with 29, while Raj was trapped lbw by current Australia assistant coach Shelley Nitschke, as India were bowled out for 117 in 46 overs to see Australia lift the title.

2009 ODI World Cup: Super Sixes and third-place play off 

Ellyse Perry, Harmanpreet Kaur, Nitschke, Goswami and Raj were all involved as Australia and India went head-to-head twice in the 2009 World Cup, and both results were telling as Australia recorded their poorest result at a global event, despite hosting the tournament.

Rolton's team were already facing a battle to finish in the top two of the Super Sixes and claim their spot in the final having lost their opening group-stage match to New Zealand, but their 16-run loss to India at North Sydney Oval ended their hopes.

Image Id: A77EE376A639483B92B6FAA9478D8673 Image Caption: Goswami and Raj celebrate India's win over Australia in 2009 // Getty

Anjum Chopra's 76 and Raj's 44 helped India to 5-234, before Australia were kept to 7-218 despite a half-century from Alex Blackwell.

Then, Australia's hopes of salvaging some pride in the third-place play-off were again dashed by the Indians.

Batting first in a rain-reduced 46-over-a-side match, the Aussies were restricted to 142 thanks largely to Goswami's 2-21, which included the prized wicket of opener Leah Poulton. Sthalekar's 3-23 was not enough to stop India in reply, as they reached their target with three wickets in hand and 2.1 overs to spare.

2017 ODI World Cup semi-final

This was the 'crucible moment' that forced Australia to reassess everything in their system, from their selection to their team culture and everything in between.

Meg Lanning's team were the favourites to lift the trophy and advanced relatively untroubled through the round-robin stage, with just one narrow defeat to hosts, England.

Image Id: BA315F2DA16E457DA1F7E407F7081826 Image Caption: Harmanpreet Kaur destroyed Australia in the 2017 semi-final // Getty

They had accounted for India by eight wickets in Bristol earlier in the World Cup, but on a gloomy day in Derby, Harmanpreet Kaur unleashed on Australia's bowlers.

Kaur's unbeaten 171 powered India to 4-281 from a reduced 42 overs, before a pearler of a delivery from Goswami bowled Lanning for a duck early in the reply.

Alex Blackwell's valiant 90 off 56 deliveries was not enough as India won by 36 runs, securing their place in the final against England at Lord's.

2020 T20 World Cup: Opening game and the final

India shocked Australia in the opening game of the 2020 T20 World Cup in Sydney, with Poonam Yadav running through a star-studded batting line-up to secure a 17-run win.

It continued a trend of India getting the better of their rivals at global events; they had followed their 2017 one-day semi-final victory with an emphatic 48-run win during the group stage of the 2018 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, although Australia had the last laugh at that event, beating England in the final.

Image Id: 3C1D719305734E83B125AB75197BBF0D Image Caption: Healy produced the image of her life in the 2020 final // Getty

In 2020, Australia were already under immense pressure to advance as the home side, defending champions and firm favourites, and their first-up loss left them needing to win their three remaining matches to advance to the semi-finals.

It took some fight, and a fair dash of luck with the Sydney weather in the semi-final, but they got through to set up a blockbuster final against India at the MCG.

In front of 86,174 fans, Australia were dominant; blistering knocks from Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy powered their side to 4-184, before India were bowled out for just 99. 

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs

Mar 15: Beat West Indies by seven wickets

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports