England aim for another semi-final special against India

Finals bring nan glory, but it is semi-finals wherever England person really been astatine their best.

In nan era of England's white-ball resurgence, nan dates 11 July 2019 and 10 November 2022 guidelines out.

On some occasions, a World Cup trophy whitethorn person been won a fewer days later, but those were England's 2 astir complete limited-overs performances successful caller memory, perchance successful their history.

The first was nan eight-wicket demolition of Australia to scope nan 2019 50-over World Cup final.

The 2nd was nan glorious nighttime successful Adelaide wherever England overcame a partisan crowd to thrash India by 10 wickets and scope nan T20 World Cup final.

On Thursday, defending champions England return to Guyana – cricket’s astir important enclave connected mainland South America – for nan first clip successful 14 years, to look India again successful their latest semi-final.

On some of those erstwhile occasions, England began acold from overwhelming favourites, only to emphatically move nan tide.

Australia had beaten Eoin Morgan’s broadside convincingly 2 weeks earlier astatine Lord’s. Before nan gathering pinch India successful 2022, talk was already each astir nan imaginable of an all-Asian last against Pakistan.

If not nan proverbial rollercoaster, England person sailed nan highs and lows of nan Caribbean seas during this tournament, leaving them second-favourites successful a two-horse title erstwhile again.

They almost exited astatine nan first stage, only scraping done astatine nan disbursal of Scotland pinch a helping manus from their Ashes rivals.

Momentum and a feel-good facet has been built by nan wins complete Oman, Namibia and nan United States, but really bully is this England side?

West Indies are nan only Test-playing federation they person beaten en way to nan past four, albeit successful awesome style.

This semi-final will specify nan reply to that question.

In contrast, India eased done amid nan hustle and bustle of nan Big Apple. They were put beforehand and centre successful New York arsenic nan showpiece enactment successful cricket’s effort ace nan States and progressed pinch small fuss.

On presence successful nan Caribbean they continued serenely connected their measurement - not genuinely tested since their tight triumph complete Pakistan.

Sunday’s triumph complete Australia was ominous, skipper Rohit Sharma uncovering shape pinch a fierce 92 from 41 balls. Someone could inquire Josh Hazlewood connected his formation location whether letting nan India skipper clang 8 sixes was successful Australia’s “best interests”.

The awesome Virat Kohli has only made double figures doubly successful this tourney and has a precocious people of 37. The fearfulness for England is he cannot enactment quiet overmuch longer.

India spell into this lucifer pinch nan advantage of having known they would recreation to Guyana for a semi-final since nan fixtures were announced, because of really this tourney has been built for Indian television.

England were group arsenic second-place finishers successful their group connected Sunday nighttime but could not recreation until Tuesday greeting erstwhile their destination was yet confirmed.

With hotels and flights arsenic scarce arsenic a Jasprit Bumrah long-hop, location will beryllium nary English media and very fewer fans successful Georgetown.

India picked a squad pinch 4 spinners backmost successful May, knowing a semi-final connected 1 of nan tournament’s slowest pitches was waiting.

Kuldeep Yadav did not play erstwhile connected nan seamer-friendly surfaces of nan US, Yuzvendra Chahal is yet to characteristic astatine all.

One will surely play, perchance two, fixed wrist-spinners person been by acold nan astir effective action astatine Providence Stadium.

England could moreover beryllium tempted to springiness a debut to their spare spinner, Tom Hartley. He had a agelong vessel earlier Sunday’s lucifer against USA.

The different basking taxable successful nan build-up to this lucifer has been nan upwind – and nan deficiency of a rainfall reserve day. If location is nary consequence possible, India will advancement courtesy of finishing apical of their Super 8s group.

There are much than 4 hours of other clip disposable to fresh successful a match, however.

If England’s caller history successful knockout matches is positive, India’s is thing but.

They person mislaid 4 of their past 5 semi-finals successful white-ball World Cups, pinch their hold for a world title now into its 14th year.

The only semi-final they person won successful that clip was astatine location successful nan 50-over World Cup past year. That was followed by a corporate frost successful nan last arsenic Australia romped to victory.

Defeat by England successful Adelaide brought astir superior questions of nan guidance of Indian white-ball cricket.

Coach Rahul Dravid, who will measurement down aft this tournament, said England were helped by nan truth galore of their players had acquisition playing successful Australia’s Big Bash – thing India do not allow.

Little has changed since.

For England’s hierarchy, triumph would let England coach Matthew Mott and skipper Jos Buttler to move connected from their disappointment of past year’s 50-over World Cup erstwhile and for all.

One disappointment would beryllium forgiven, if it came betwixt 2 finals.

And whoever wins this semi-final will commencement nan adjacent lucifer arsenic favourites.

South Africa person their ain World Cup past to woody with, while Afghanistan person ne'er reached this shape before.

England person mislaid 1 semi-final successful caller times, against New Zealand, successful nan T20 World Cup successful nan United Arab Emirates successful 2021 – a day fewer remember.

Beat India and 27 June could guidelines alongside nan others.

With shot group to predominate nan sporting headlines for nan adjacent 2 weeks, suffer and it will simply beryllium forgotten.