The March 26 semi-final is all set to be a slugfest of words flying around in high intensity with Australian all-rounder James Faulkner blowing the bugle for the biggest one thus far.
“There always is (sledging) in the game and if there isn’t you’ve got problems. It is the nature of the game, it is the semi-final. It is going to be cut throat, there are going to be words said, it is going to be a really tough contest and both teams won’t be backing down,” he said, adding that short ones will fly high and mighty.
“In one-day cricket, short pitch bowling is used. I don’t think it is going to be any different, be it India/Pakistan or any other opposition. They can train how they want to train, that is up to them,” he said when pointed out that the Indians were practising hard at navigating them.
Out of the Aussie squad for the first three matches due to injury, Faulkner, one of the best finishers in the game, has worked hard to return to the squad and he vowed to keep the intensity higher than the quarter-final against Pakistan and there’s reason for it. “You’re going to see two very good teams coming up against each other in a couple of days’ time and it should be a very good spectacle,” he said.
With good spectacles come high nerves and Faulkner had no hesitation in admitting that nervousness would be universal and on both sides of the fence. “Everyone is going to be nervous in their own little way and it’s up to them how they deal with it. A lot of nerves were on show a couple of nights ago and that’s good. Both teams are exposed and if you don’t have nerves, you have got issues,” he said.
Aussies, indeed, have issues and most of them are in the spin department where the hosts lack fire.
“They (Ashwin & Jadeja) are world class spinners and they’ve done their job for a long time now. Our team and our line-up doesn’t have that, we go in with a different team and we’re playing in Australia. We’ll play our best eleven. If you see the wicket against Sri lanka didn’t spin and it was quite easy to get hold of. I’m not sure what make-up they’ll go in with and not sure about the make-up of our side. It depends on the wicket and what’s produced on game-day,” Faulkner said.
Admitting that India had spent a lot of time in getting used to the conditions in Australia, Faulkner said India’s presense in the semi-final hadn’t surprised him. “There’s no surprise that they’re up against us in the semi-final. They’re a very strong team and I think we’re as well. It’s going to be a great contest.”
So, will the semi-final be a high scoring game with India having a upper-hand with spinners in their sideIJ Faulkner doesn’t think so, saying that it’ll all depend on the wicket. “Against lanka we made 360 and they made over 300. It was a great one-day cricket. I’m expecting a lot of runs scored. If you look over the past between India and Australia whether we’ve played them over there in the ODI series in the recent ones or in Australia, you’ve seen a lot of runs. I think that’s what will happen come game day,” he said.
His recipe for success against India is to have belief whatever the total might be.
“As a batter it’s all about your start whether you’re chasing or setting a target. If you start well with bat or ball, more times than not, you are going to end up in a position in the last 10-15 overs when you can have a crack at chasing a big total. Coming late in the innings, you look great when you’re hitting the inning runs or being there in the end, but a lot comes from the first 10-15 overs from the openers and the top three to set a platform for your team,” he said.
But India does not worry him bit. Asked it India’s 7/7 record might intimidate his squad, Faulkner said, “Not at all. They are a good opposition and we are looking forward to Thursday. I think it is going to be a great occasion,” he added.