Australia take on India in the second Semi-Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup on Thursday morning and Darren Lehmann is anticipating a high-scoring encounter.

The 45-year-old Australian Head Coach believes that - after facing India in both red and white ball cricket throughout the summer - neither side will have any secrets up their sleeve when play gets underway at 3.30am UK time.

The Sydney Cricket Ground is playing host to the fixture, where South Africa posted 408 against the West Indies and Australia and Sri Lanka shared 688 runs during the group stages. Lehmann is, therefore, expecting the runs to flow again.

"I think the Sydney pitch will be very similar to the one we used in the game against Sri Lanka more than a fortnight ago when almost 700 runs were scored, so I think this will be another high-scoring affair," he said.

"Hopefully the SCG is packed with gold as all the Australian venues have been throughout our campaign, and we get a huge lift by seeing so many fans getting behind us.

"But from what I've seen at other games in this World Cup, I suspect there will be a very loud and proud Indian turn-out at Thursday's game, so I urge you all to bring your flags, wave them hard and often and provide some really visible and vocal home town support.

"Now it's a matter of who plays well on the day. India are really starting to gain some confidence on the back of some good performances since the tournament began, and that fact that we know them inside out - just as they do us - adds an extra element to what already looms as an enthralling contest."

Captain Michael Clarke, meanwhile, is refusing to attach significance to India's winless tour of Australia during the build-up to the tournament.

“Since the New Zealand game I think we’ve slowly been building our cricket, slowly been improving," he said. 

"Every win gives you momentum, gives you confidence and this will be exactly the same.

“I think they’re obviously playing a lot better than they were throughout the start of the summer.

"And I said leading into the World Cup that India were going to be an extra tough team to beat, obviously because they’re a very good team, but also because they’ve spent so much time in Australia. They know the conditions quite well.

"The game on Thursday is certainly going to be a challenge and we’re definitely going to have to be at our best to beat them.”

 

Trent Bridge hosts the fourth Royal London One-Day International between England and New Zealand on Wednesday 17 June. Don't miss the chance to watch England seek redemption against the Kiwis and secure your seat now.