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ESPNcricinfo previews the match between Mumbai Indians and Pune Warriors in Mumbai

The Preview by Abhishek Purohit12-Apr-2013

Match facts

Saturday, April 13, 2013
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)The Robin Uthappa of old was on display against Rajasthan Royals•BCCI

Big Picture

One of the biggest mysteries of the IPL is how did Pune Warriors manage to lose 11 games on the trot with such an impressive squad. Probably on par in mysteriousness is how Mumbai Indians have not been able to win a single IPL title with some of the biggest names on their rosters, both playing and non-playing. While Mumbai Indians have made it to the knockouts for the previous three seasons before stumbling, Warriors’ string of defeats – an IPL record – had become self-perpetuating in a way.Match after match, their top order would look like it would rather be somewhere else. There was no intent, there was no attempt to take on the opposition. There was a strange hesitation, as if they were waiting for someone else to take charge, and no one was actually doing it. It took a frank call from their captain Angelo Mathews to evaluate their “intent and attitude”, and an injury to Marlon Samuels, to finally wake up the sleeping Warriors.Aaron Finch came in to partner Robin Uthappa at the top of the order. It wasn’t just the fact that the pair added 58 inside five overs against Rajasthan Royals to get rid of the losing streak. It was the way they went about doing it that showed Warriors were serious about discarding their diffidence.Warriors are up against a side which, in its previous game against Delhi Daredevils, recovered from 1 for 2 to make 209 for 5. The first two wickets were those of Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar. Dinesh Karthik and Rohit Sharma’s response was to blitz 132 in 13 overs. It shows what this Mumbai Indians side is capable of doing.

Players to watch

The opening partnership has been a constant headache for Mumbai Indians for a couple of seasons. The one between Ponting and Tendulkar began with much expectation but has had a couple of failures. While a chance to see the two legends walk out together is enough to fill the ground, how many games will Ponting give himself before dropping down the order, given Mumbai Indians were so keen to chop and change previous season?The Robin Uthappa of old was on display against Royals, swatting length deliveries over long on, swinging powerfully over deep square leg and also purposefully punching through the off side. He made more than 400 runs in IPL 2012, but the strike-rate of 118 mirrored the hesitation that marked Warriors’ approach. Mathews would want more of the intent Uthappa displayed against Sreesanth.

Stats and trivia

• Mumbai Indians won their previous meeting with Warriors by one run, only the fourth-such result in the IPL
• Sachin Tendulkar has taken the most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in an IPL game – four

Quotes

“We have a good side and it takes a while to gel, since we have a new captain, and a lot has changed for us this year – Angelo is the captain, Yuvi is back and Ross Taylor’s in the side.”

“I do not get worried too much with a few failures. This is a format where you need a little bit of time to get into the groove and then score freely. This is my style of playing, this is the way I play and I am glad that I have got some runs.”

Umesh Yadav, the India fast bowler, has said that he has recovered completely from the shin injury he picked up during India’s tour of Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2012Umesh Yadav, the India fast bowler, has said that he has recovered completely from the shin injury he picked up during India’s tour of Australia. Yadav, who is currently in Mohali to play for Central Zone in the Deodhar Trophy, was not rested for the Asia Cup. “I’m back to full fitness,” Yadav told the . “I’m not concentrating on anything other than achieving my goals, like working on my bowling and maintaining my fitness.”Yadav was called the “find of the tour” by team-mate Gautam Gambhir after he impressed with his speed and aggression in the Test series. He finished with 14 wickets from four Tests and his strike rate of 50.5 was the best among India’s bowlers. But in a move to protect the fast bowlers, Yadav was rotated during the one-day triangular series, where he finished with just five wickets from six matches. “As a fast bowler, you cannot go on playing matches for long periods as it exposes you to injuries, besides weakening your muscles,” Yadav said.Yadav’s focus is now to hit peak form as soon as possible and the Deodhar trophy opener today against South Zone will be a good test. He pointed out that he would have to adjust from bowling on the fast and bouncy tracks in Australia to the much slower and flatter pitches in India. One factor in his favour is that the tournament is being played in Mohali, where the pitch is more generous to the fast bowlers, and Yadav said he would like to take advantage of that fact.”The conditions don’t matter much. Yes, you get more bounce and pace on the wickets abroad while in India, I can only name a few places like Bangalore and Mohali which are a bit pace-friendly. But as a bowler, all you have to look for is the correct line and length.”Edited by Tariq Engineer

Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar has cited differences between the players and coach Eldine Baptiste while criticising the national team’s performance

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Feb-2011Cricket Kenya chief Samir Inamdar has cited differences between the players and coach Eldine Baptiste while criticising the national team’s performance at the World Cup thus far. Kenya suffered massive defeats at the hands of New Zealand, who bowled them out for 69, and Pakistan, against whom they went down by 205 runs.”The coach has his own way of doing things which did not go down well with some senior players,” Inamdar told . “But ultimately, the coach has a duty to do and the players as well have a duty. I hope they will overcome those differences and play well.”Though Kenya’s defeats have come against Test-playing nations, their spineless capitulation in each of their two games thus far has not gone down too well with the board. They are in the same group as Zimbabwe and Canada, teams they’ll be confident of competing better against, but their game thus far has lacked discipline. Their bowlers conceded 37 wides against Pakistan, while the batsmen have struggled to measure up to both pace and spin.”The board and I are disappointed by the performance so far,” Inamdar said. “I don’t mind losing to teams like New Zealand and Pakistan because they are obviously better than us but we should be competitive. We need to be seen to be fighting and scoring runs.”Inamdar said he’d spoken to the players. “We can do better. I have had a long chat with the team management. The chief executive (Tom Sears) returned home yesterday and we had a long chat as well and I expect them to lift themselves up in the remaining matches.”Obviously, they did not get the basics right. The batting and bowling was not good at all.”

Set to chase a mammoth 392 in 91 overs, unbeaten leaders Yorkshire made a great tilt at the pursuit only to run out of steam in the final hour and finish on 300 for 5

Mark Pennell at Canterbury24-Apr-2010

ScorecardTim Bresnan was shifted up to No. 3 and responded with 70•PA Photos

In the 27 matches played between Kent and Yorkshire in Canterbury since 1885 some 11 have been inked into the record books as draws, but few of these will have been as entertaining as this four-day clash at St Lawrence where honours deservedly finished even.Set to chase a mammoth 392 in 91 overs, unbeaten leaders Yorkshire made a great tilt at the pursuit only to run out of steam in the final hour and finish on 300 for 5. When the sides shook hands on a draw just before 6pm the visitors were still 92 short of their target, leaving a battling, injury-hit Kent side to bank nine Championship points to Yorkshire’s eight.Yorkshire were given a solid, if sedate start to their pursuit in the form of a first-wicket stand worth 155 in 49 overs between left-handed opening partners Adam Lyth and Joe Sayers who batted with common sense beyond their collective ages of 48. Without frill of fuss the pair were content to see off the new ball and then manoeuvre it around into the gaps to edge their score along at a shade over three over. Most crucially to their cause was that they simply stayed out there.They deserved the odd stroke of luck, indeed Kent’s spearhead Amjad Khan beat the outside edge on numerous occasions without feathering the blade. The one time Kent did find the edge, with Lyth on 30, Geraint Jones downed a tricky chance stood up off Darren Stevens.However, just at the time when they needed to accelerate their run-rate in the mid-session, so Yorkshire’s openers perished in the space of six deliveries. Lyth (84) was unfortunate to nick a leg glance against offspinner James Hockley into Jones’ gloves then, without addition to the total, Sayers (61) followed a turning delivery from James Tredwell and steered it gently into the hands of Martin van Jaarsveld at slip.The experienced duo of Anthony McGrath and Tim Bresnan built on the solid foundations with another excellent third-wicket stand of 123 in 26 overs either side of tea that took the visitors into the final 20 overs needing 151 for a famous win at the rate of 7.55 an over – no more taxing than a reasonable par score for a Twenty20 encounter.England allrounder Bresnan survived a king pair to post a 73-ball half-century with five fours, while former Yorkshire skipper McGrath reached the milestone from 77 balls but with only three boundaries. Their fun ended three overs into the final hour when McGrath (55) holed out to Joe Denly at wide long-on off the bowling of Tredwell who, in his next over, enticed Jacques Rudolph to drive into the hands of the same fielder at long off and make it 289 for 4.The asking rate had risen to 9.8 going into the final 10 overs when Andrew Gale, having failed to score off the first three balls of a Tredwell over, mistimed a drive to extra cover and set off for a suicidal single that left Bresnan high and dry. He was comfortably run out by van Jaarsveld’s throw to the keeper at the striker’s end and went for an excellent 70 from 92 balls – Yorkshire’s outside chances of victory went with him.

The 24-year-old has arrived in north London from Manchester United with a bit of a point to prove after an underwhelming 2022-23 campaign

When you are England’s No.9, there is pressure. Your job is to score goals and if you are not doing that, then questions will be asked. That's exactly what happened with Alessia Russo last season, the striker netting only 10 goals despite Manchester United achieving a second-placed finish in the Women's Super League, the highest in the club's history, and pushing Chelsea all the way in a title race that went to the final day.

It was a World Cup year and yet the Lionesses' starting centre-forward wasn't the top-scoring Englishwoman in the WSL. That was Rachel Daly. She wasn't second in that list, either. That was Bethany England. Russo was third, sharing that position with team-mate Leah Galton, a winger who had not only matched her 10 goals but also bettered her one assist with four.

It's no wonder many called for Daly to lead the line for the Lionesses in Australia. After all, the Aston Villa star netted 22 times in as many games for a team that finished fifth in the table, picking up the league's Golden Boot and the Player of the Year awards as a result. But England boss Sarina Wiegman kept faith in Russo, and it was repaid when she scored in the quarter-finals and semi-finals to help her country reach a first ever Women's World Cup final.

Wiegman isn't the only coach with big belief in the 24-year-old, either. In January, Arsenal made a bid that, if accepted, would've made the United striker the most expensive female footballer of all time – despite her only having six months left on her contract. This was a player that Gunners boss Jonas Eidevall wanted a lot.

It took a few months longer than he would've hoped, but with Russo joining the London club on a free this summer, the Arsenal coach has her in his squad now ahead of the 2023-24 WSL season, which kicks-off on Sunday. That Russo goes into this campaign with three goals to her name already this term is a sign that she's going to have a more prolific season, too…

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  Earning Arsenal's admiration

  Arsenal have wanted to bring Russo to the club for a long time. Under former head coach, Joe Montemurro, the Gunners were close to snapping up the England forward but, long story short, the interference of the Covid-19 pandemic eventually led to her moving to Manchester in 2020 instead.

  That said, this is not a club signing. Arsenal would not put a world-record bid on the table if this was not a player that Eidevall didn't want and didn't envisage fitting his system like a glove. Indeed, this a player that the Gunners boss clearly believes is the perfect centre-forward for how he wants to play.

  Russo holds the ball up well, she is technically superb and her ability to press from the front suits Arsenal's style to a tee. She's capable of much more than the 10 goals she had to her name last season, that is for sure.

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  Adjusting to Eidevall's ideas

  That said, there are ways that Russo will need to adjust in order to be a success at Arsenal. She is capable of making runs off the shoulder and being a penalty box presence, especially with her excellent aerial ability and wonderful first-time finishes. The former United star has a real tendency to drop into deeper positions and get involved in the build-up play, though, rather than being the focal point that Eidevall will want her to be.

  After all, there's a reason why Vivianne Miedema, the all-time top scorer in the WSL, has found a home in the No.10 role in Eidevall's system. She thrived as a striker under Montemurro, but has so often described herself as “a nine-and-a-half” because of the way she, too, drops deep and gets involved, albeit in a much different way to Russo.

  Instead, Eidevall has used different players as a No.9 during his tenure in north London. Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius assumed the majority of the responsibility in that role last season, but others have also played there, such as versatile forward Caitlin Foord and midfielder Frida Maanum, with there previously no natural option to take Blackstenius out of the firing line when she needed a rest.

  Russo will offer that now, but will need to adapt and learn to lead the line in the way that Eidevall wants, too.

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  Playing with Miedema

  Part of why that adaptation will be important is because when Miedema returns from her ACL injury and is playing in the same team at Russo, Eidevall will want them working in tandem rather than stepping on each other's toes.

  The pair have the making of a wonderful duo, with Miedema's creativity in that No.10 role and knowledge of what a centre-forward wants in a pass sure to give Russo a ton of chances in front of goal if she can stay in the higher positions and make the right runs.

  Add in the quality of set-piece takers in this Arsenal team and the number of wide players who can whip in excellent crosses – think Katie McCabe, Steph Catley and the soon-to-return Beth Mead – and Russo, who scored a late winner with her head for United at the Emirates last November, can score plenty of goals for the Gunners.

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  Early signs are good

  It's clear already that Russo can adjust, too. On her Arsenal debut in September, a 3-0 win over Linkoping in Women's Champions League qualifying, she wasn't on the scoresheet, but she was on the end of a number of chances and linked up well with plenty of her new team-mates.

  The 24-year-old did drop deep a fair bit, but that created space for others to run into, with midfielder Kim Little benefitting from this a lot. Perhaps Miedema can even profit from Russo's tendency to come into the midfield without the need to completely eradicate that trait from the England star's game. That's one for Eidevall to think about.

  In her second outing in Arsenal colours, Russo then showed that clinical touch that was missing from her debut. Coming off the bench against Paris FC, she started the Gunners' comeback from 2-0 down with her first goal for the club before Jen Beattie's stoppage-time equaliser took the game to extra-time. There, Russo came to the rescue, levelling things in the 116th minute after the French club had taken the lead once more.

  Russo, along with Maanum, did miss her penalty in the decisive shootout, but Arsenal's premature Women's Champions League exit was by no means on her. Instead, her two games in the unsuccessful qualifying phase showed a lot of positives, especially so soon after she had featured prominently in England's World Cup campaign.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to mark a straightforward 4-0 win for Portugal in Roberto Martinez's first game in charge

A Cristiano Ronaldo brace, as well as goals from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, gave Portugal an easy win over Liechtenstein to open Euro 2024 qualifying.

Portugal took the lead inside 10 minutes, with Joao Cancelo's deflected strike wrong-footing Benjamin Buchel to mark the first goal of Roberto Martinez's Portugal tenure.

They grabbed a second shortly after the half, Bernardo Silva lashing a shot through a crowd of bodies and past a helpless Buchel. Ronaldo provided the third, tucking a penalty into the bottom corner after Joao Cancelo was tripped inside the box.

The captain added the fourth after an hour, blasting a free-kick off Buchel's palms and into the top corner, to round off a near-perfect start to his side's qualifying campaign.

GOAL rates Portugal's players from Estadio Jose Alvalade…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Rui Patricio (6/10):

  Faced two shots all evening. Clean sheet.

  Joao Cancelo (9/10):

  Scored the opener with a deflected strike from outside the box. Won a penalty for the second, completed the most dribbles in the match. An attacking clinic from a right-back with a point to prove.

  Danilo Pereira (6/10):

  Translated some of his solid centre-back play from PSG into the national team.

  Ruben Dias (7/10):

  Completed the most passes in the match, made some lovely runs forward.

  Goncalo Inacio (6/10):

  A good outing with very few defensive responsibilities for the 21-year-old.

  Raphael Guerreiro (6/10):

  Lively down the left, argued with Ronaldo about his forward runs once or twice.

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  Midfield

  Bruno Fernandes (8/10):

  Blasted one wide after a lovely piece of skill. Created seven chances, looked to get forward, was Portugal's liveliest option in the first half.

  Joao Palhinha (7/10):

  Kept the ball moving, offered some solidity, but Portugal didn't need a defensive midfielder here.

  Bernardo Silva (7/10):

  Scored the second, lashing one through a crowd of bodies to give Portugal a comfortable lead. Was otherwise limited creatively.

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  Attack

  Joao Felix (7/10):

  Given plenty of room to operate, but didn't always provide the final pass. A delight to watch on the ball, though.

  Cristiano Ronaldo (9/10):

  Scored twice, and could have added a third on the night when he became the most capped player in international football history. Is now the only men's footballer to score 100 competitive international goals. Vintage Cristiano.

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  Subs & Manager

  Ruben Neves (7/10):

  Made his case for a consistent spot with a fine 25 minutes.

  Rafael Leao (6/10):

  Almost scored a spectacular overhead kick.

  Vitinha (6/10):

  Kept it simple.

  Goncalo Ramos (N/A):

  Replaced Ronaldo with 15 minutes remaining. Barely touched the ball.

  Joao Mario (N/A):

  A puzzling late introduction.

  Roberto Martinez (9/10):

  Went with a back five in his managerial debut, and Portugal played some good stuff. Can't complain after running out 4-0 winners, but might face some critics for setting up so defensively against an inferior opponent.

MatériaMais Notícias

Bruno Henrique e Rodrigo Caio foram dois dos quatro desfalques do Flamengo para a final da Taça Guanabara, vencida pelo Flamengo por 2 a 1, neste sábado, contra o Boavista, no Maracanã. Na última hora, Rafinha e Arrascaeta se juntaram a eles, mas os primeiros são quem preocupam, de fato, para a Recopa Sul-Americana.

Ao ser questionado por jornalistas ainda no gramado, Bruno Henrique optou por não assegurar quando retornará aos gramados. A tendência é que o camisa 27 não esteja apto para enfrentar o Independiente Del Valle nesta quarta, pela finalíssima, também no Rio de Janeiro, tanto que Jorge Jesus torce por um “milagre” (veja abaixo).

– A recuperação está indo bem, estou fazendo tratamento para voltar o mais rápido possível. Não sei, estou fazendo tratamento intensivo para diminuir os dias fora. É tratar para ficar bem – disse Bruno Henrique, emendando:

– Ficar de fora é sempre ruim, mas nosso time tem muita qualidade.

Logo após o duelo da ida da Recopa, em Quito, Bruno teve lesão diagnosticada noligamento colateral medial do joelho direito e um estiramentona cápsula lateral no local. Rodrigo Caio, por sua vez, lesão muscular no adutor da coxa esquerda. E o zagueiro também falou com a imprensa:

– Feliz por mais um título, conquista sempre importante na carreira. Recuperação vai indo bem, a cada dia me sentindo melhor. É difícil eu falar (se joga nesta quarta), estou tentando recuperar o mais rápido possível. Não tem previsão, é difícil falar se vai ser hoje ou a dez dias. É importante recuperar bem para voltar o quanto antes – falou Rodrigo Caio.

FALA, JORGE JESUS!

Na entrevista coletiva, Jorge Jesus foi abordado a respeito dos contundidos, citando também Rafinha, que sentiu doresna posterior da coxa esquerda.

– Amanhã (domingo) vou dar folga e vamos comemorar o Carnaval. Arrascaeta, Rafinha e Bruno Henrique não sabemos ainda se vão se recuperar até quarta-feira. Talvez o Rafinha, sim. Mas o DM do Flamengo faz milagres, então pode ser que mais algum esteja – comentou o Mister.

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Not even the support of a festive home crowd and conditions they thrive could inspire India Women as they were knocked out of the World T20 by West Indies Women in Mohali

The Report by Shashank Kishore in Mohali27-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDeandra Dottin led the way for West Indies with a brisk 45, followed by figures of 3 for 16•IDI/Getty Images

Not even the support of a festive home crowd and conditions they thrive could inspire India Women as they slumped to a three-run loss to West Indies Women in Mohali. The defeat brought the curtains down on India’s disappointing World Twenty20 campaign.Jhulan Goswami, who bowled all of two overs on a slow surface, kept India alive with a few lusty blows that brought the equation down to 20 off the last two overs. Tension engulfed the PCA Stadium, but a crowd that was on tenterhooks roared in delight as the third ball of the penultimate over sailed over long-on to bring it down to 12 off nine balls.But her run-out off the next delivery, once again, meant the pendulum swung West Indies’ way. Deandra Dottin, who ensured West Indies were in with a chance by making 45 off 40 balls in the team’s total of 114 for 8, then showed immaculate death-bowling skills to leave India short-changed. Shikha Pandey, who carved a boundary over point to bring it down to five off three balls was run-out off the next delivery to effectively dash India’s hopes.India landed the early punches and weakened West Indies to 26 for 3 as the contest was reduced to a battle of spin attacks. The hosts then switched off for a bit, only to see Stafanie Taylor and Dottin regain lost ground, and then lift West Indies with a fourth-wicket partnership of 77 that gave the bowlers a handy total to defend.India were dealt an early blow in their chase as Mithali Raj fell for a golden duck, leaving the young middle to lead the recovery. But West Indies, who learnt a thing or two from India, stifled the hosts’ challenge with spin. Equally impressive was their ground fielding that helped them save at least 10 runs. In the end, it proved to be the clincher for West Indies, as they put one foot in the door to the semi-finals. West Indies now await the result of the England-Pakistan clash in Chennai.Raj’s glee at winning the toss wasn’t lost on anyone. And the team justified the decision by choking West Indies with spin, as the top order tangled themselves by playing for turn when there wasn’t much. Taylor and Dottin, known for their firebrand approach, tempered down to milk India’s spinners, taking as many as 38 singles in their partnership to set up a platform for the final flourish.West Indies kept waiting for India’s spinners to finish their quota of overs, but they kept arriving like a factory line, leaving Taylor and Dottin to force the pace. That they did in their own unique style. While Taylor turned to pick singles, Dottin used the crease well to smother the spin and bring out fierce sweeps and delicate dabs that kept India honest.Not even an outstanding catch by Anuja Patil at long-on could lift them out of a hole they got into; 30 minutes of indiscretion on the field allowing West Indies to get 20 more than what India would have liked to keep them to.In their chase, there was early panic that was exemplified by Veda Krishnamurthy’s ill-timed pull to midwicket to leave India in strife at 22 for 2. Harmanpreet Kaur scratched around to not just elevate the asking rate, but also put pressure on Smriti Mandhana.Kaur’s dismissal for a 20-ball 7 left the middle order with unenviable task of hitting out right from the outset. When Mandhana chopped on for 22, there was proper panic. Hard as the lower order tried, they couldn’t bridge the gap, with the lapses on the field eventually proving the difference between the two sides.

Dan Christian is the allrounder chosen by Notts Outlaws to try to fill the void left by Darren Sammy’s departure to the Caribbean Premier League

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2015Notts Outlaws have signed Australian all-rounder Dan Christian for the remainder of the NatWest T20 Blast campaign.Christian fills the void left by Darren Sammy who has departed for the Caribbean Premier League following a four-game stint with the Outlaws.Christian had only limited success during an unproductive Middlesex campaign last season, but Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket Mick Newell he can be a successful substitute for Sammy.”I keep saying that, particularly with international call-ups and injuries around, we need to be as strong as we can be,” he said. “So with an overseas vacancy available to us following Darren’s departure to the CPL, and knowing of Dan’s availability as we have for some time, it was an easy decision to bring him in.”He’s someone that tends to score his runs quickly and he also provides a very good option with the ball, which you need plenty of in T20 cricket.”Christian, who has 34 caps in white ball cricket for Australia, has amassed 146 career Twenty20 appearances including stints in the Indian Premier League with Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore. On English shores, he was a Friends Life T20 winner with Hampshire in 2010.He averages 20.11 with the bat, at a strike-rate of 128.53 that includes a century – 129 off 57 balls for Middlesex against Kent last season – and two fifties. His average with the bat is 27.72 with the ball at an economy rate of 8.16 runs per over.”Dan is a very aggressive and entertaining batsman to add to our line-up and also one that has lots of know-how in how to read the game and pace an innings,” added Newell.”He also has lots of experience, particularly in Twenty20, and I know he’s very keen to pass that onto our young players which is important. Darren Sammy certainly did that and I’m sure Dan Christian will do likewise.”

Scars? What scars? Everyone’s talking about scars, but Rohit Sharma sees none. The scars being discussed do not concern cosmetic surgery for a movie star, but the Indian team’s memory of what Australia had been like around six weeks ago.Defeat followed by defeat followed by defeat, with a drawn Test or two bunged in. India had traipsed around Australia, unable to defeat any team they ran into. Even England in the ODI tri-series, an idea so absurd today that it instantly turns Monty Python-esque.The memory of those games is now so distant to the Indian team, as if erased from memory. The last six weeks in Australia have involved victory followed by victory followed by more victory, seven times over. But now it is time for the semi-final of the World Cup, and they are up against that same team they were unable to beat. Australia, in the World Cup semi-final. With a title to defend. Hence the scars.”I don’t think it matters,” Rohit said. “What happened was in the past. We never wanted to carry it [the Test and tri-series results] into the World Cup. We always spoke about this. We know how important the World Cup is, and [for us] to come out and play some good cricket. So now it is just the matter of two more hurdles.”India have spent the last four months in Australia. Rohit said: “We have to make the last four months worth it.” He said the team had come to Australia with a “mission”, with the World Cup being the focal point. After two and a half miserable months, Rohit said, “None of the guys thought about going back. We were there on a mission, we wanted to achieve history.”It is India’s ability to play the big, “historic” games (particularly in ODIs) that was the team’s strength in the last four years, winning 64 off 106 ODIs played since becoming the world champion. For all their wobbly overseas Test record, of those 64 ODI wins, 39 have been overseas and 25 at home. India’s ability to turn up on the big days, regardless of what may have transpired earlier, is their X-factor going into this game. Rohit said, “We know how to play big games, we’ve been a part of it. It brings out the best in everyone.”If there ever was any semi-finalist that Australia would have preferred avoiding in Sydney in this World Cup, it would have to be India. The India that turned up after Valentine’s Day, that is.The run-up to the semi-final has been what one writer in the called a “one-team phoney war”, given that the Australians are talking things up – James Faulkner has spoken about sledging, Steven Smith about scars – only for the first Indian to speak to the media in days to play it down. Questions around any verbal and psychological battles were met with an eyes-half-closed signature Rohit flick: after dismissing the scars, he said India will not back down in the face of any aggression, but effectively executing cricketing skills was more important.”You must have noticed this throughout the Test matches that when we played Australia, none of the teams backed down, both the teams were right in each other’s faces. It’s part of the game.”But see, it has been my belief, we need to stick to our game plan. If there is a bit of banter going around, so be it. There will be times where you’ll see a lot of bowlers and fielders getting right in their faces… But as a team, we have to stick to our game plan and try to execute what we’ve been doing for the last seven games.”One of the areas India will have to execute to precision in is against a suitably revved-up Mitchell Starc, who is as punishing with the new ball as with the relatively-old one. In the first match against Pakistan, they did tackle Wahab Riaz adequately but this was before he got angry. Speaking on the matter, Rohit said: “Our approach has to be the same as it has throughout the series… the opening partnership sets up the game for the rest of the order to come and bat. We know what he [Starc] is capable of but we should stick to our strengths. It is important for the top three to lay the foundation for the others to follow.” India’s top three have all produced centuries in the tournament, and that is something the Australians would have noted.Rohit was also asked about possible Australian weaknesses, and couldn’t leave without guiding one through the slips. “Every team has some kind of weakness, and Australia has got some as well, they have definitely struggled against quality fast bowling. If you look at the game against New Zealand, they got all out for 150. Even the other night in Adelaide against Pakistan, they seemed to be in a bit of trouble. Overall they are good batting unit…We are a different bowling attack, we have to stick our strengths. We have our ways to come and counter them, whether it will be spin bowling or fast bowling. You will see that tomorrow.”