CRICKET SPORTS NEWS

         India will go into Thursday's World Cup semi-final against Australia in Sydney confident of success irrespective of whether the wicket took turn or assisted fast bowlers. The wear and tear at the end of a long season was evident when the covers were removed at the Sydney Cricket ground on Wednesday, revealing a dry, brown pitch that would gladden India more than their rivals.

        South African spinners Imran Tahir and JP Duminy shared seven wickets to bowl out Sri Lanka for 133 in the quarter-final at the SCG last week, setting up a nine-wicket win for the Proteas. But the bat dominated the ball in previous World Cup games at the venue, with Australia piling up 376 for nine against Sri Lanka and South Africa smashing 408 for five off the West Indies' attack. Australian coach Darren Lehmann predicted a high-scoring game, India were not sweating over the nature of the wicket. We have taken 70 wickets in seven matches, bowled out the opposition every time, so we know what we need to do.

         Our seamers have done well and so have the spinners. We are ready for anything that we get. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men have confounded critics  by recovering from a winless bilateral tour of Australia before the World Cup to brush aside all-comers in the tournament.