‘England have the best spinners in the World Cup’ - Vaughan

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You're listening to the TMS podcast

from BBC Radio 5 Live.

Well, hello.

Welcome to Mumbai.

I'm Henry Moran and welcome to the test match special podcast.

I'm happy, holy as well.

It is the engine festival welcoming spring.

You might be able to hear some of the festivities

in the background as we sit here

on a warm morning just a couple of days out

from the T20 World Cup semi-final.

Will it be England?

Will it be India heading to the semi-final

to join either South Africa or New Zealand?

You're listening to the TMS podcast

from BBC Radio 5 Live.

Well, sitting with me in the sunshine

as the music plays and the festivities takes place.

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain.

And also, Prakash Wakanka.

It is a very colourful scene.

I have to say as we went to breakfast this morning,

Michael and I were dormed in paint powder, Prakash.

You arrived a little late on parade for breakfast.

So, dare I say, Michael and I are looking

at a little holier than Vaughan.

Tell us what holies about first and foremost.

Well, you know, this festival is actually, as you said,

it marks the change of season primarily.

But there are two very interesting

and different legends associated with it.

One is on the previous night, that's last night.

In the north of India and the north,

not central part of India,

you would have had a fire being burned

with old things, wood,

but all the old stuff that you want to throw away.

So, it's so much about regubination.

It's about burning all the evil,

getting rid of all negativity,

all of that stuff.

And in that part of the country,

that fire then settles and in the morning,

some of the ash is taken as sort of an offering,

if you will, mixed along with all the other colours

and things that are used for the play

and then people play with it.

And now, of course, because of Bollywood,

even in parts of southern India,

where Holi was never really that big,

it's become a festival, it's like everything else.

I mean, you know, anything that Bollywood does

becomes national, maybe even arguably global.

So, there's a huge amount of attraction

to Holi for people both within India and elsewhere

and people just have a great time.

The traditional drink, by the way,

and this is an interesting,

is a type of, I don't want to use the word,

but it's a type of thing that helps you get a little bit of eye.

It's rolled into a little ball

and in almond-infused milk, it's kept overnight

and then you have copious quantities of it during Holi

so that you just, you know,

you're in a state of semi-consciousness,

if you want to call it that.

And so, it goes from just the pure flowers at one end,

which is purest to all the way,

where you have a certain amount of, you know,

heavy heads, if you will.

Well, there you go, warning, I feel educated.

Well, I feel like I've been let down

because I've not had one of those drinks,

it's called Par, and we should give you some.

I'm looking over at the celebrations

and just I'm not to see where the drinks are,

but I see it's such a lovely vibe, isn't it?

This is a very Bosch, very organised,

very sensible version of it like a...

What Henry hasn't let on to is that

Michael Oful plays came from entering breakfast

where I was greeted by three lovely young ladies

putting all the colour on my face.

So, Henry actually got his doing his part run this morning.

I went on a Holi part run,

obviously it didn't work that well.

Where it did.

And there was a group of people and they just finished,

they were having some snacks, some osmosis and things,

and they absolutely bombarded me with the paid powers.

So there we go, so I tried to wash it off without much success.

But yeah, what a place, what an occasion,

and we build up to what should be an incredible couple of semi-finals.

I mean, we'll get on to England against India

at the Wankadi shortly,

but South Africa is due to the light, Phil, again.

South Africa have been brilliant, seven out of seven.

Yeah, I mean, they're a high quality side.

They obviously got to the final in the Caribbean.

They were close to beating in doing that final in Barbados,

didn't quite get over the line,

but they look ready.

I think the World Test Championship final victory

is just given their cricket more,

so it was a bit more,

but what's on the air practice?

There used to be more noise.

What's going on there?

Oh, they're now twing flowers in colour

from the balcony upstairs.

Oh, nice, too.

So wait, and the parties are often running

and we're continuing our doubts throughout the day.

But there's a laughing side to me that they look ready.

Whether they'll do enough to win two games, to win the trophy,

but I do think that World Test Championship final victory at Lourdes

against us trailers, just given them that boost.

We've got the first major trophy.

You know, you look back to India

when they didn't quite get over the line

in the 50-over World Cup in India.

They played the pure game right to the final,

had one blip and didn't quite get the trophy.

And that's the only fear I think for South Africa,

is that in C20 cricket,

you're only really, what, three or four, five overs away

from having a poor night?

We're also three or four, five overs away from having a good night.

Is that close, team 20 cricket?

And I would say that New Zealand will have to play

a little bit better than the Diddy-Gasing,

than in Fanger, but completely different pitch.

I looked at the game, India versus the West End,

is at Karl Kutzer, just a couple of nights ago.

And I think the toss was hugely important.

I think Chasing clearly is a great option

and he could come down to who wins

and toss and Chasing could win that game.

Yeah, it's going to be fascinating.

And the winner will play England or India.

Prakash, come on.

We've had a couple of days to digest what we saw in that game.

It gets the West End, he's in Kolkats.

We've made the journey.

It's a here and Mumbai.

I mean, what's the feeling about this game on Thursday?

Henry, we've had this conversation so many times.

My answer's going to be very predictable.

The reality is, can India win it?

Yes.

What does the record say?

There's nothing between England and India.

In T20, World Cup and in overall T20.

The one match separates the two teams

in terms of wins and losses, both places.

Today, India, just with their nose in front with one game.

And therefore, it's going to be an absolutely brilliant game

in my view.

I worry about 1987 way back when Gooch swept us

out of the World Cup.

That is a 50-year-old World Cup.

But of course, the reality is also

that playing at the one-carrier stadium

so many of these England players,

Josh Butler in particular, who's not been in good form.

But this could be the day when he finds that form

and that small ground.

They know the conditions well.

They know the teams know each other very well

because of all the ideal cricket they play.

So I think there's going to be no mystery in it

in Mumbai that you can be a factor.

But at this time of year, I'm hoping it won't be as much.

And therefore, I think it'll be a very, very close game.

It just comes down to, like Michael said.

Are they going to be a couple of big overs here,

a couple of bad overs there?

And that will decide who goes through?

Michael, the Josh Butler question.

England will play him.

There's no doubt about that.

But his form has been wretched.

Yeah, I mean, Yelka is record over the last four

hours to see events.

I think it's now 26 innings and just 150.

And that 50 came against the USA.

And a return of those numbers for such a great player

is remarkable, really.

But the one thing I say about Josh Butler is,

it is a big game player.

And if you were ever going to back the player

to come back into form, there's two things.

I mean, big game player.

So he loved that mindset of knowing that he's

done it in big games before.

And also, the one-carrier has been a good ground friend.

He's had some great scores here,

whether it's for England or in the IPL.

So he's going on to a piece that should suit

his style of play.

I've watched him back close.

I just think he's playing too technical.

I can see that he's looking at his stance.

And clearly, you're always looking at your technique

when you're not feeling as good as your have done.

But I always think Josh is better when he's just,

he's a hand-eye player.

Just stare at the ball right in the middle of the ball

and just react to the deliveries.

The shot, say, hasn't been playing so far in the World Cup.

And it's probably because of the pitch

that he's in Sri Lanka, or the ramp shots.

And I think when Josh retires, whenever that may be,

in a few years' time, I think if you say,

oh, you know, what is the Josh Butler shot,

we'll all go play the scoops in the ramps.

I think this pitch will suit that shot.

And I think if there's ever a ground where you can bring out

a ramp or two early to the seamers

and get himself off the running, because the one thing

I say about that shot is to play that shot,

you have to stare at the ball right onto the middle of the back.

So that means he's really studdy in the ball

onto the middle of the bat.

And I always look at Josh and think,

when he's playing while he brings those shots out early,

he gets fielders behind the wicket

and then it opens up more opportunity down the ground.

From what I've seen so far, he's been thinking about

down the ground first and behind the wicket second.

I think he's a better player when he thinks

behind the wicket first and then down the ground,

because it opens up more avenues of success.

So a big, big game for Josh,

but I think he's been proven in this World Cup

that it's almost been a World Cup where the opening

partnerships for all teams have not been as important

in the past, because most teams are packing

the bat until number eight.

So the opening partners have all been sent out

to go ultra-aggressive to try and get off to a fly

and lose a couple of wickets.

They generally have an insurance policy

and then they have more debts to the batting

with players that can come in at eight or nine and strike.

So I wouldn't be saying that England

desperately need an opening.

It'd be helpful to get an opening stand, obviously,

but it won't be the necessarily difference

between winning and losing, because they've won so many games

in this World Cup without that opening partnership flying.

But you think to win a semi in a final

and some like butler or salt will have to have at least

one or two innings between them in the next two games,

you would think, Prakash, I wonder if India

are going to be more worried about Will Jackson,

who's the leading middle-order one scorer in the tournament.

And as Michael says to it, his team's down the order,

actually, that have been doing the damage.

Well, Jack's scored 191 runs in the middle-order

across seven matches at a strike rate of 180 or so.

So four player of the match awards

are ready for the performance he's had.

And I think yesterday he said something really lovely.

I enjoyed reading it in the paper of this money.

He said, if I don't have to do anything in the semi final,

that'll be perfect, because that means we won again.

He has been remarkable.

And I think like Michael said, so many of these performances

come around 7-8, 6-7-8-9, where the fag-end of the batting

innings have suddenly been a boost.

And of course, Jack's with his bowling.

He's also bringing stuff in.

Who knows, maybe if India still play with two left-handed

on the top three, maybe he's got a job to do up front as well.

Who knows?

What would India want in terms of England's batting line?

Would they want to see Butler in the side?

Oh, yeah.

I think they'll be worried about Butler.

Absolutely, I mean, I think Indian players have seen enough

of Butler to realise that he can have a moment.

He's only 10 or 12 balls of finding a little bit of rhythm,

a little bit of form, a few bounces.

And we've seen Butler so many times,

that he can get you an 80-off 30-35 balls,

which can win you a game with crickets.

So yeah, that'd be where he is.

Just, Butler, I look at India and think,

what will they go with their bowling side?

Because someone like Kool-Dee Villadev has had so much success

against England in the past, and he hasn't played yet.

Will they think of Wayne Kool-Dee Villadev?

And it seems to drop in a Shiva and Doobie,

who's their insurer, it's policy down the back end

and playing one extra ball there.

Funnily, I mean, I don't think it's happened too many times,

practice in the history of England versus India.

But I think England have got a better spin at that than India.

Chakrabat has been got in this World Cup.

Axe Batel is a very consistent left-ass spinner,

but indoors of Rashid and Will Jacks,

you would say that that trio has been the best trio

in the tournament in terms of spin.

And I'm invariant to see what the pitch is at the Wayne K.

Dev generally is a good pitch,

but the pitch against the West End is wearing the loss.

You know, the West End is spin,

of course, a bit of damage to the England batter.

So it's kind of a funny situation to me,

finally, so the England batting,

you would want to target them with spin.

But India got the kind of,

the temptation or the bravery to play a Kool-Dee Villadev

for either one of their batters

or there are some like Arstip Singh.

It would be intriguing for me at the top

to find out what the combination in England.

I know we'll probably bring a Jamie Davidson

for Ray and Armit here at the Wayne K.

Even though Ray, I'm this so well in the last game,

I think they'll go back to a seamer

on this kind of service,

but it's more the debate of what India will go with,

rather than what England will go with.

I think England's kind of in the bank.

Well, India is still the debate

of whether Kool-Dee plays or not.

We've all seen the Indian coach,

and if he could have his way,

he'd have an oven batter than the team you feel,

because he just wants to pack the batting all the way down.

And as it is with Bumra, Arshdeep and Varun,

the bottom three aren't really going to do much

with the bat if they're ever asked to do.

So I suspect that like you're saying,

one, he's going to be a toss-up between,

is there, are they going to go with just Bumra and Hardik

in terms of seeing?

And then God help India if Shivam Dube has to bowl much.

But, you know, we'll have to wait and see.

I can't see Kool-Dee playing much

as I would love to see him play.

It's the big mystery.

We talked about it in the test series all the way through

in England.

England seemed to not like to see him play,

and India seemed to oblige every time.

I don't see it very different in the semifinal here.

I would probably be out of against England.

I, huh?

I really would.

Maybe you've got to give a good,

got to the cold.

I sang, guys, number.

But I just think he's, you know,

he's a wonderful baller who has had so much success

against England in the past in the semi-final.

You know, surely it wants someone

that could damage, you know,

look at Harry Brook who is the major threat for India.

He's, like, he's in fantastic form.

And that moved to number three.

Many were crying out for him to face more balls.

Why he was wasted and leaving himself at number five

was beyond me.

But now he's at number three.

He's the one player that I look at it for.

He's got a genius in him.

You know, that innings,

that was sore against Pakistan was spectacular.

And he can win a game on his own in, you know,

he'll want a story, I want to play in the way

that he's telling his teams to play,

which is this fearless approach.

You know, got there and really take the opposition

on at number three.

He can dictate that and he can lead the way

to where the rest of the players are.

This is the way that I want you to play under pressure

in a big semi-final.

His first few deliverers are going to be intriguing

because if he can come out and play one or two of those,

I mean, that shot that he flicked over midwicked against,

it was it off Matt Henry

was absolutely a joke of a shot.

If he can get a couple of shots away,

it tickle against someone like Jasper Bumra,

that is going to be a big play in the semi-final.

Well, of course, it is the size

that if one of the last two additions of this tournament

was India winning in the Caribbean.

2024 England winning in 2022,

beating India comprehensively,

10 wickets in Adelaide in the semi-final.

And England's player of the tournament,

that year was Sam Cohen

in just a moment will be hearing

from the England all-rounder.

The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

Right then, a couple of days out

from the T20 World Cup semi-final involving India

and England here in Mumbai.

Let's hear from the England all-rounder, Sam Cohen.

He's been chatting to Matt Henry from BBC Sport.

Sam were two days out from a World Cup semi-final

against injury in Mumbai.

So you'd rather smile on your first

as than what other feelings is that excitement?

Is it nerves? What do you think before that?

Yeah, excited.

What an opportunity to play, I guess,

the hosts in their home ground,

obviously, Wankehri, a very iconic stadium.

We extremely excited.

Obviously, a couple days training now.

So, yeah, kind of what dreams are made of,

really, semi-final World Cup against India.

I guess it doesn't really get that much bigger, I guess.

It's hopefully we turn up on the night

and have a great game.

Yeah, it could be loud.

The team prepared for that.

Do you talk about that sort of thing?

Yeah, it's not going to be quiet.

I think it's pretty obvious that the crowd's going to be epic

and what an opportunity for us to kind of come out

here and we've played a lot of cricket in India as well.

So we can expect, we know what to expect from them.

And I guess a really good team.

They'll be pressure all round.

So I guess, yeah, huge opportunity

and hopefully it comes good for us.

Yeah, England have played India

in the last two to 20 World Cup semi-finals.

Is that something you speak about as a team?

Not massively.

I don't think, obviously, it's a new tournament.

We've come, obviously, a different journey.

This World Cup, a couple of, I guess,

going to Sri Lanka and a billion India as well.

So we've managed to win games from scenarios

that we probably shouldn't and then there's also games

that we've just had really good everyone just chipping in.

So hopefully we can come with that semi-final

that almost perfect game when we need to.

And I guess, yeah, we've had success against India.

They've had success against us as well.

So it should be a cracking game.

Yeah, that's 2022 semi-final.

You've been in Dubai 10 Wickers and Adelaide.

You've played in a better England performance than that?

Well, I guess if researching for a perfect game,

I guess that's something we could hopefully model our game on.

Obviously, that time when we chased on,

I think it was 180 odd.

And Adelaide was great memories.

I guess then, obviously, they beat us in the West Indies.

So yeah, I guess we take confidence.

We've been playing really good cricket

and finding ways to win.

And hopefully, I think everyone's been, I guess,

saying that we haven't played our perfect game

and what an opportunity to do that on Thursday night.

What are your memories of that night in Adelaide?

Just winning by 10 Wickers, to be honest.

I think we obviously were bowling first

and the way Joss and Hales he played was amazing.

And we took huge confidence from that

and ended up winning the tournament.

So this T20 cricket we know comes Thursday night.

It just takes a couple guys in a strong fielding performance,

couple guys with a ball, couple guys with a bat.

And we know what we keep for love.

So that's why we're extremely excited.

And like I said, when you're a young kid

and you think of where do you want to play,

it's probably in a stadium like this

against India in front of the world.

So I'm what a great time to be involved in this team

and fingers crossed, it's our evening.

Yeah.

As you've said, you've played an injury a lot.

You've played against injury loss.

What are the keys to beating India and India?

I guess in T20 cricket, there's honestly,

I guess, staying nice and calm.

We know that the crowd's going to be huge.

The pressure's going to be there for both teams.

I think we both know how we play.

So it's kind of like we play a lot with the Indian guys

and the IPL, they play with us.

So I guess that's a huge opportunity within itself.

They've obviously had a similar or a different journey

to the World Cup semi-final than us.

We've played in Sri Lanka and I guess surfers

are a little bit different.

We've also played here.

So whatever surface gets thrown at us,

I feel like we've been adapting extremely well

in terms of what the conditions are.

And I think against India, you've got to adapt pretty well.

We know they're very strong sides, so but on the night.

And I guess with our plans and the way

we're going to be nice and positive.

And I guess hopefully it's enough to beat them.

And they will also have their plans against us.

So I think two huge teams and two, a lot of good T20 players

in those sides.

So yeah, I get like I said, it's just a lot of excitement

in our group.

Does it matter or is it a worry that you've

been in Sri Lanka, India?

Event in Sri Lanka once in this tournament,

but I've had a good run in India now.

Is that a concern?

No, I think it's a positive.

I think like the surfaces we've played on

have been so different.

We've played on some really good ones, some turners,

some bit of Jew, no Jew.

So I think we've covered most of our kind of challenges

and kind of everyone's been saying we haven't played

that perfect game.

And I think the main thing we all care about

is that we've managed to win.

And we're in a semi-final free from three.

And that's super eight.

So we're very high on confidence.

And I guess it's semi-final cricket.

It's kind of, there's no going back now.

It's kind of, we turn up on the night and give it everything.

And hopefully it's enough.

Yeah, and you've mentioned all those close finishes

you've come through.

Do I sense that you took confidence

from that rather than being concerns

that you've let it get that close?

Yeah, I think winning is a habit in T20 cricket.

I firmly believe that.

And I think it's almost quite exciting

that we haven't played that 225 with the bat

and bowling and team art for 60 kind of thing.

And there's a lot of guys in our team

such dangerous players.

If we can all come good on that night,

we'll be extremely dangerous side to beat.

So we used a confidence, it's one of those nights

where you've got to give it everything

and hope that it's enough.

And I think we've fielded really well.

I think we've jouled as a group, bowling group,

and bat is as well.

So yeah, we're very confident

and obviously very excited to be taking

on the hosts in their own home country.

Yeah, if it gets tight again,

and you're bowling last,

could be you personally at the death,

couldn't it you've taken those deathovers?

Is that something you look forward to?

Yeah, massively, I guess doesn't get any bigger

and hopefully it doesn't come down to the 10 off six

to defend and hopefully one nice and easily,

but if it does, obviously be first on to put my hand up

and try and win the game for my country.

So that's extremely exciting,

but I think for it to get to that stage,

we're going to play a perfect, that perfect game

and whether that's putting a big score on the board

or chasing something down,

I think we've got our plans,

we're going to train really well the next couple of days

afternoon and evening sessions.

So yeah, I guess it's get our preparation right

and get excited.

What are your processes when it gets tight and tight?

We had it here against Nepal,

didn't we, you balled that last over 10 off six,

as you mentioned, what do you,

what processes do you try and go through

to get through that situation?

Ah, I guess it's, for me, it's probably just visualizing,

I guess some of their plays that I'll be coming up against,

I've played against all of them in the IPL

and things like that, so in terms of that,

there's no unknowns about what to expect from the Indian team.

We know their team extremely well

and I'll just train as though I mean,

those situations and saying thing,

what you do at the back,

you think about which bowl is you're going to face

and just kind of visualize and put yourself in those scenarios

and then, I guess, yeah, just be excited.

I'm kind of sat here with a lot of excitement

I've played in World Cup every final

and to be playing India, like I've already said,

is pretty special.

So I guess whatever happens,

just hoping that we get one run more than them on the night.

And Harry, what's he like in those situations?

You had the one here, the ones Italy,

I think it's penultimate over,

wasn't that you got a couple of wickets there.

What's he like when it gets really tight in those situations?

Yeah, really, Khan Brook has been great,

obviously new to the role in T20 stuff

and there's a lot of senior players

within around him that are helping him

and extremely calm.

Let's the bowler decide where he's feel comfortable,

field sets, things like that.

So he's being great and I'm sure on a night like Thursday night

when it's extremely loud,

it's going to require a lot of calmness

and kind of being very clear on how we want to attack them

and yeah, Brookie's backs his bowlers

and I guess that helps when you've got a captain

he gives you that backing and belief

that you can be the man.

So yeah, he's being great.

Yeah, have you spoken to Joss at all

about you mentioned him earlier?

It's such a big part in 2022.

He struggled in the last few innings,

single figure scores.

Is he someone that you would ever feel the need

to go and give it a tip to

or is he not that sort of person

and you'd just let him sort it out himself?

Yeah, I'm very close to Joss,

obviously chatted with him quite a bit around

so I guess the way the tournament's going and things like that.

There's no doubting his ability,

such a quality plan, there's no question

he would love to have scored more runs

but I guess I'm a firm believer

I'd much rather him and my team on Thursday night

than in the Indian team

because when you've got quality players like that

they're bound to come good.

So whether that's even if it's not on Thursday night

we still have still much rather Joss Butler

being my side than in other teams.

So we firm belief that we'll come good

and him and Salty the top of our order

can come and fly out the blocks here.

It's normally a great wicket

and yeah, I think we've got full faith in Joss

and yeah, hoping that those day will be as night

because we just know such a quality play has been for us.

Yeah, confident you can win?

Absolutely.

Well that was the thoughts of Sam Curran

could be a very key player for England crack cash

and somebody that knows the IPL

but this is another point though, isn't it?

All of these players know these venues

it's not gonna come as a surprise when it's all wide.

Not at all and I think we've talked about it often

through the last few weeks Henry

we know that Sam Curran and India have an amazing equation

he performs brilliantly against India

and in India whether it's IPL or any other form of cricket

so he will be a key part of it.

I just feel that because England have found a way

in difficult situations to consistently take that one extra step

and get over the line almost every time

they are better for it.

They haven't sort of just blown everyone away

like in some way South Africa have

or India did it in 2023 in a 50 over World Cup.

India have had the blip as well

that one terrible day in Amdabad.

So I think both teams will fancy their chances.

They both know there's nothing to choose really.

It's about the performance on the day, the match-ups

who's gonna come out and play that inspired innings

on either side or two

and that will determine who goes through

but I suspect the 12th man which is the crowd

if England are able to as Sukri Conrad said

the other night in Amdabad

we are there to silence that crowd.

If that happens and if the crowd goes silent

I think England will have done the game.

Yeah, I don't know whether it's because of the drink

I'm about to have for celebrating holy

but I've just got a funny feeling about England.

I have a feeling that they're on this nice ride

from Sri Lanka.

You've got a Sri Lanka really in play a few games

before a World Cup in those conditions.

Preparation was good, it's a prize in that

and they'd play quite well

but we don't want to go back a few moves anyway

but I've just got a funny feeling about the England side.

They seem to have found a way of winning

and that's really important.

I think winning close games, I think the winner goes to

is that even though it was a bit of a dead rubber

to win in that chase

needing 43 after the last three overs

and to get over the line quite convincingly in the end

was a great effort.

Clearly they're gonna have to play well

and cope with the crowd and cope with the expectation

but I'll just look at this in the inside.

Whether they are just not playing great

or they're waiting for this moment

to put in their best performance, time will tell

but I thought that fielding against the West in

was as bad as I've seen it

and England's fielding has been absolutely exceptional.

Opkinson, the fielding coach has come in

and done a wonderful job from what I can see.

They just look really alert in the fielding

and the Indian side were really poor in the field.

England's running between the wickets has been exceptional.

So just small kind of percentage things

that you can control yourself

which you've fielded in attitude

running between the wickets.

England seemed to be doing very, very well

and if you can bring that on Thursday here in Mumbai

and they get one or two of their firecrackers playing

a Harry Brooker, Joff Butler, a Phil Salt.

I like England's bowling.

I look at the bowling that's how I think they've got

everything covered, they've got great combinations,

great variables and I don't know why

and as I said, maybe it's happy holy

but I've just got a funny feeling

that England can get the job done here in Mumbai.

Prakash, take us inside the Wankady Stadium

and what it'll be like on Thursday night.

It'll be shaking, it'll be throbbing.

That you can be sure.

I mean, even for neutral games we saw

the Nepal game, for example.

Boy, those supporters come out and really shake that stadium up.

It'll be an absolute riot in terms of people.

They know they, if India do win, all lose.

This is the last time the Mumbai crowd

is gonna see India in this tournament

much to the disappointment of many

who don't want the big final to be in Ahmedabad,

they want it to be in Mumbai or Calcutta or Chennai

but that's for another time.

I think there will be a lot of support for India

but two Michaels point about feeling.

India actually have three, there I say,

almost passenger like folks in that squad, right?

Just breathe, does the job with the ball.

I don't think he's electric in the field.

Why don't you check over here?

I think he's just got to get his head sorted out.

He doesn't seem to be himself at all

and Ashmi isn't exactly flash in the field either.

So in a T20 game where every run is so critical,

those three guys are gonna be a handicap

that India are gonna have to make up

with some brilliant somewhere else.

You think about that West Indies game.

West Indies a number of balls that went through legs

on the boundary edge, number of y's that were pulled.

They could easily won that game West Indies.

Yeah, they were poor.

I mean, India have a good day in the field.

I reckon the rest of the West Indies to 160

and I guess that's the threat for England.

If India come out and ball the way that they did it,

I thought they balled nicely against the West Indies

and they just didn't feel well enough.

But India have got the skill set

and the capabilities blown any team away

and that's the worry.

You go back to many of the games,

you go back to a game here a year or so ago,

when Amshet got a big 100, got over 250,

won by a clienty.

So you know that India have that in the locker,

but this England side just seemed to be in T20 cricket.

They made the last five semi-finals.

So England know how to play T20 cricket

at the highest level and they've got a group of players

that have played a lot now.

I mean, the selection's been really good.

You go back a year ago in the Champions League trophy,

similar conditions.

When Sam Curran was in there, Liam Dawson wasn't there.

They went with all right-armed pace ballers.

You know, just the major spin of Adel Rashid

and nothing else really.

They've got selection right.

I think Sam Curran's been exception.

I think Liam Dawson, just under the radar,

rock solid performer.

You know, he's just delivering.

He balls in the power play, balls in the middle,

balls near the back end.

He just knows his own game and he's a player now

that I think will be around the whiteboard team

for a while, he's fit.

There's no reason why he can't play.

Obviously until the 50-over walk up in 27 and beyond

because he's, you know, doing a nice job.

He's doing ball in those under spinners,

just skinning the ball onto the right-hander

from around the wicket perfectly.

And he's got the game awareness of what's required.

So the England have got the selection right.

He's just a performance and he can get a performance.

I don't see India performing as badly in the field

as they did against the West Indies.

No, and I don't see them performing as badly

as they did against South Africa with the bat.

I think they've got their batting sorted.

I think they've almost had that blip.

So England will have to play a good game of cricket,

but I do think England have got enough good players

playing well enough to, I guess it'd be a shot.

You'd have to say at this stage,

that India would be just favourites

because it's in Mumbai, a home territory.

India have just started to play a little bit

bit of a particular with a batting hand.

And I think that's where India will think that they can win

more so than with the ball actually.

I think they know that this powerful batting

on what they have,

it can really blow any seam in the world

away on a given day.

So that's the real fear for England.

When the toss presumably, you want a chase?

I suppose both of you would probably want a chase.

As my guess, unless, of course, England,

I will be with friends of the board

because any final, that logic.

I think conditions and the prediction of you

will play a factor, for sure.

If at all there is going to be any due,

we'll know in the next couple of days

when we see the ground of the evenings.

I won't be worried about buying first-off rack

because the West Indies

got one night five against England and one quite easy.

There was a bit of tweak.

I got back to that 50-hour walk up here

where England, I think, against South Africa,

won the toss and decided to bowl in the afternoon

and South Africa got four and so batting first,

you can actually get a big, big number.

The pitch might get a little bit,

but if you get bat first, you can easily get a two,

25, two, 30 score that can obviously put you massively

in the game.

I agree, I think, chasing will be the way

that both captains want to go.

I don't think here is a venue that you lose

the toss, you lose the game.

You can still win the game, batting first.

Yeah, it's a memorable day then again.

South Africa, not least, because Josh Butler,

when he won the toss and elected to field first,

said afterwards, I didn't realise

how hot it was going to be.

Despite being out there, when it was very hot at the toss,

but it was a well-cut that did not

not necessarily going the way in so many ways,

but who knows what it's going to be like on Thursday.

One thing we do know is it's going to be noisy,

it's going to be colourful, much like the rest of the day

here in the Inman Bay.

Drakash, we're not far from Marine Drive

and all the celebrations.

Talk us through what the rest of Oli

is going to look like around this.

Well, I mean, look, where Holy will now be played

is two areas, basically, one in these large housing complexes,

where all the residents get together

and it's just a absolute ball that they have.

And then on the streets, depending on where you are,

if you go into the old city to the crowded areas

or the central Mumbai, you will get drenched,

you will get fed things, you will get things given to you

which you drink at your own risk if you want to.

But it's just going to be a day of festive further.

Tomorrow morning, you will see people going to work

looking very different from what they were in the previous evening.

That I can assure you, because sometimes,

some of these colours don't come off that easily.

Yes, as I discovered this morning,

trying to get the red paint off my face in the shower.

So we'll wait and see.

We'll wait and see what the day brings us

and the next couple of days, indeed, with the semi-finals,

both getting underway, one 30 UK time,

first up on Wednesday.

It is the game between South Africa and New Zealand

and Calcutta and Eden Gardens.

Full commentary of that on BBC Sounds and Five Sports Extra

and then England against India on Thursday.

We're not expecting any rain.

There are reserved days available,

but we don't think that that will be a factor.

So we will wait and see what occurs.

Who will be heading to the final in-armament

a bad on Sunday?

My thanks to you, Michael and to Brakash.

And thanks so much for listening.

Don't forget to subscribe on BBC Sounds

to the Test Match Special Podcast

to make sure you never miss an episode.

Thank you so much for listening.

Let's go and find one of those drinks.

Thank you, Michael.

Thank you, Brakash.

See you later.

The TMS Podcast from BBC Radio Five Live.

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