World Cup 2015 India v/s Australia: There are going to be words said, says James Faulkner

If, for some reason, India were planning to play Thursday's semifinal without making too much noise, then they can shelve that idea. And that's because the Aussies are going to 'talk'. Stung by the fact that the blokes who couldn't beat them all summer are suddenly on a roll now, the co-hosts of the World Cup know they need every possible weapon to stop the Indian juggernaut. Gentlemanliness be damned. So be it, India would say.

"I think there always is (some sledging) in the game, if there isn't, you've got problems," all-rounder James Faulkner said on Monday. "It's the nature of the game, it's a semifinal, it's cut-throat. There's going to be words said and it's going to be a really tough contest. Neither team will be backing down." If nothing, the match referee is going to have a tough day in the office.

Another factor irking the Australians is the nature of the pitch. Pitch No. 4, which hosted the first quarterfinal between Sri Lanka and South Africa, will be used again. It's anybody's guess how the straw-coloured strip will behave and which team it will favour. Prior to the team practice session, MS Dhoni let out a wide grin after taking a look at the wicket. Even team director Ravi Shastri was amused.

Even though Faulkner played down the 'Advantage India' aspect, he would do well to know that Andy Atkinson, the chief pitch of the International Cricket Council, oversaw the preparation of the wicket, which was rolled all morning. "I haven't seen the wicket and it's Monday, so I have no idea where to go with that," Faulkner said.

Asked if Australia would miss the services of a genuine spinner in these conditions, Faulkner praised the Indian spin duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. "They are obviously world-class spinners, they have done the job for a long time. But our team and our line-up doesn't have that. We are going with a different team and we are playing in Australia, so we will play the best XI, our selectors will pick that. (During) our last game against Sri Lanka (in Sydney), the wicket didn't really spin and it was quite easy to get hold of. I am not sure what make-up they will go in with, I am not too sure what make-up we will go in with. But the wicket will dictate that."

Faulkner said he was not surprised to see India on a roll. "I am not really surprised that they are doing well. Every time I have come up against them, it has been a very good game of cricket and it has gone right down to the wire. If you go back on the Indian series while we were over there, there were a lot of runs scored and a lot of great chases. And likewise, when we have played them here, most teams have scored 300 and been there or thereabouts while chasing it. So they are a good opposition. We are looking forward to Thursday. I think it is going to be a great occasion."

Faulkner, whose audacious batting holds him in good stead, especially in the death overs, admitted that MS Dhoni & Co. have adapted well after their travails in the first half of the tour. "We have come up against them a hell of a lot in the last 12-18 months. I think now that they have spent a fair bit of time in the country, they have adapted well to the conditions. It's no surprise that they are up against us in the semifinal. They are a very strong team and I think we are as well. It is going to be a great contest. If you look over the past, India and Australia, whether we have played them over there in one-day series, recent ones, or in Australia, we have seen a lot of runs and I think that's what will happen, come game day," he said.

Faulkner knows Thursday's game will be an 'away' contest for Australia in more ways than one. Apart from the pitch, which is expected to favour India's style of play, most of the 48,000 seats will be occupied by fans clad in blue. For the record, the game is a sellout. "We were talking about it last night (Sunday) at dinner," Faulkner said. "I think the last game we played here, it definitely felt like that (an away game). Obviously, the passion the Indian fans have showed towards their cricket team is sensational, so we are definitely expecting that, come match day. (There were) so many people even though it was a washout (during the tri-series). The fans were unbelievable in supporting India."