The Australia and India squads have had ample time in the past four months to work each other out , ensuring a level of tension for their World Cup semi-final expected to go well beyond the usual for a knockout game . Australia all-rounder James Faulkner wo n't be surprised if there 's some niggle and verbal exchanges , just like he 's not surprised that defending champion India shook off their poor form leading into the World Cup to win seven consecutive matches . 'They 've spent a fair bit of time in the country , so they 've adapted well to the conditions , ' Faulkner told a news conference Monday . 'It 's no surprise they 're up against us in the semi-final , they 're a very strong team . Australian cricketer James Faulkner fields a ball off his own bowling at the Bellerive Oval during the World Cup . Australian Faulkner bowls during the 2015 Cricket World Cup match against Scotland at the Bellerive Oval . 'You 're going to see two very good teams going up against each other - it should be a very good spectacle . ' Australia have won the Cricket World Cup four times and reached the final on two other occasions , but never on home soil . India have two World Cup titles , and became the first team to clinch it at home in 2011 after beating Australia in the quarter-finals , Pakistan in the semi-finals and Sri Lanka in the championship match . Watson bats during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Australian and Pakistan at Adelaide Oval . India did n't win a competitive match between the time the squad landed in Australia in November until its opening World Cup game against Pakistan on February 15 . In that time , it lost a test series to Australia , and was winless in a limited-overs tri-series against Australia and England . There was some glaring aggression between the teams in the test and ODI series , with players on both sides sanctioned and warned that sledging would not be tolerated at the World Cup . All-rounder Shane Watson was fined last week for his part in an exchange with Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz . Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was fined last week for his part in an exchange with Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz during a torrid spell of fast , short-pitch bowling that was easily the highlight of the quarterfinal in Adelaide . Faulkner said that exchange was 'all in great spirit , ' and he expected more spirited exchanges with a spot in the final at stake at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday . 'There 's going to be words said and it 's going to be a really tough contest , ' Faulkner said , adding that there 's usually some sledging on the field . 'It 's the nature of the game , it 's a semi-final . Cut throat . Neither team will be backing down . ' Watson plays a short pitched ball from Riaz of Pakistan during the World Cup match at the Adelaide Oval . The India squad practiced at the SCG on Monday but , as have become the usual routine at the World Cup , remained off limits to the media until the eve of the match . The Sydney venue is expected to be packed with traveling India fans who may outnumber Australia supporters and possibly make it seem more like an away game for the locals . 'We were talking about it last night at dinner , the last game we played here it definitely felt like that , ' Faulkner said . 'The passion the Indian fans show toward their cricket team is sensational , so we 're definitely expecting that . '
Hosts Australia take on India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday . James Faulkner wo n't be surprised if there 's some verbal exchanges . Australia all-rounder also not surprised that India have re-found their form . Defending the World Cup champions India have won seven games in a row .