Test Match Special - CWC Day 6: Wood and Woakes’ tweets, and the Wooden Spoon derby?

Episode Date: June 4, 2019

Jeremy Coney and Mel Jones join Simon Mann in a soggy Cardiff as Sri Lanka edge past Afghanistan. Chris Woakes and Mark Wood try to identify which of their teammates are Beliebers, which like Friends, and which like Made in Chelsea, based on old tweets. And will we ever see Dale Steyn in a South Africa shirt again? He’s out of the World Cup, but India are finally about to make their debut.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Hello. I'm Mark Wurke. Wood, welcome to the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. Straight towards Stokes, it takes an incredible, one-handed catch.

Unbelievable. Keppledev going back, catches it. Kevin O'Brien from nowhere has scored the fastest hundred in World Cup history. Smallen, that's it. The West Indies have retained the title. Smith and Watson embrace. Australia have emphatically won their fifth World Cup by seven wickets. Hello and welcome to the TMS podcast.

I'm Simon Mann in Cardiff and coming up we'll have reaction to Sri Lanka's narrow 34 run win over Afghanistan. We'll ask whether Dale Stain has played his last international match after being ruled out of the World Cup through injury. India finally prepared to come to the party and Chris Wokes and Mark Wood discuss in depth the final points of life as an international cricketer. Mint, beat. Who says beat? Stokes. Stokes. It's got to be stalked, I'm not.

Don't Curran! Available every day during the Cricket World Cup. This is the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. So Sri Lanka have won their first match of this World Cup by 34 runs on the Duckworth Lewis Stern Method, low-scoring game, bowled out for 201, and Afghanistan bowled out for 152. We've had rain, but we've got through.

It's great that the World Cup, yet to be besmirched by rain. Ultimately, we had rain today, but we managed to get through to a positive conclusion. Jeremy Coney, watched the game alongside me and Mel Jones as well. I posed the question at the start, Jeremy. Is this the two sides fighting over the wooden spoon or trying to avoid the wooden spoon? At times today, I mean, it wasn't high-grade cricket, but it was, for the most part, riveting cricket, wouldn't you say?

Yeah, I think that's fair. It maintained interest right throughout the game. Yes, you're right. It was a bit of an arm wrestle on who would lose and who would win. And there was an element of here, we're not playing very well. You have a go. No, no. Now we'll come back.

Now it's our turn. And that's what kept the interest ultimately. Kind of low scoring match, really. Lots of mistakes, as you say, lots of wide. lots, well, the catches were dropped, bowling was erratic at times. But putting all that to one side, it actually became quite a close contest. I thought that the Afghanistan side had a good toss to win, in decent conditions to bowl. Their seamers let them down, spinners had to bring it back,

and then suddenly a storm of wickets from Nabi brought them back into the game, and from then on, from that sort of midpoint, it was. was Afghanistan pushing and pushing and pushing and Sri Lanka. Oh, no, don't get us out so quickly. We don't want to lose this. And a total in the end of 201 by Sri Lanka. It wasn't a big total, and there was a chance. And I think Duckworth Lewis kind of helped them as well a little bit

when it was reduced to 187. And from there on, it looked for a while with the start. And two stellar starts today from both opening batting. partnerships. It looked for a while as if Afghanistan were going to be fine. They were pushing hard, they were playing the big shots. But in the end, I think the canny kind of seamers, I think the seamers were better for Sri Lanka today than their counterparts. And that might have told in the end just that continual, just a little bit of nibble and a bit up and down was too much for the Afghanistan side. Mel, was this a big opportunity missed by Afghanistan?

Afghanistan all the conditions meant, and Jeremy was talking about the pace bowling of Sri Lanka. It meant it was always going to be quite tough for them to get 187? They'll be thinking there's an opportunity miss, but I think this is one of the reasons why we're not speaking about Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in terms of pushing up to being in the semifinals at the end of this tournament because they're two teams at the moment, and I only say at the moment because they've both got the capabilities

of continuing their development or coming back to playing up in World Cup finals like Sri Lanka have done in the past. they don't have the capabilities to have sustained pressure on the opposition and so when you know that's going to happen and you've got two teams like that you're going to get a seesawing kind of game I mean you're a seesawing kind of game like that

then you're hoping that within your team set up you've got some experience and to put their hands up at certain times not saying that Pradeep's got the experience but he put his hand up he got an opportunity he was the only change in the game he came in a bold well and then when you're sort of just getting ahead of the game

you can throw to the ball to someone like Malinga when you're bowling towards a tail you always felt as if Sri Lanka probably had control of it at the back end. But it was one of those games that I think both teams will say, if we can look at the periods of time in which we can control the game and figure out why we lost that control and extend that for another five or seven overs and it keep chipping away and extending that longer and longer periods throughout this tournament, there will be a little bit of a handful for opposition.

What about Sri Lanka's batting? I mean, gentlemen, they were bounding over the hill at one stage. It was remarkable, really, their collapse. You know, if you're the batting coach of Sri Lanka, what are you thinking this evening? Well, you're thinking there's a lot of work to be done, I think. Pereira has shown his ability to hit the ball in both games we've seen against New Zealand.

He was the only man who really looked to be relaxed and playing a few. It reminds me of Jarsuria, actually. That kind of bottom-hand group. Even the way he runs between the wickets, isn't it? Just those big cuts and the big drives over sort of cover area, very powerful, puts the foot down early for his team and allows someone like Karuna Ratna to just play around him.

So that's quite a nice little opening partnership, I think, but they've got to get more from someone like Matthews. I think they've got another opener there, Aviska Fernando, who they could bring up into number three, I think, and sort of shear that up, that little part. So they're not losing quite so many wickets early on. Okay, they didn't lose them today early on, but suddenly. they fell in a heap. They're not being able to get established and get a partnership and continue those partnerships so that you're always getting 25 or 30. They're just, they're not

getting there. So they're not going to be competitive until they get more runs. You cannot get away with getting 200 and those sort of game. It's not going to be competitive. No, you can probably do it again by Afghanistan, but you can't do it against anywhere else. And the trouble for them as well is when you look at the line in which Afghanistan bold, particularly early. It was a very leg line. So they got away with quite a few shots, early doors, which got them into their innings. Now, all of a sudden when they're coming up a team like India or England, they're not going to get that sort of, you know, leeway by any stretch of the imagination. So they're going to

have to find another way. They went from 144 for 1 to 1.49 for 5. And then suddenly Afghanistan, since they were in the game, we often talk about the man of the match. What about the moment of the match? I suggest that Tisera Perez catch. Yeah, without a doubt. He got rid of Hazritullah Zazai for 13. Hazratertala came out and played lots of shots. I mean, it's exciting.

It's unorthodox. It's not the sort of cricket we're used to in a strange way. It feels a bit like hoiking and slogging and heaving. But if you let him get away, he could have just destroyed that target and Pereira swooping on that fine leg boundary. You know, they say catches win matches. Did that catch win the match?

Well, it was certainly going until that catch. It was going Afghanistan's way. While Hazvatullah was there and hitting the way that he was, he was always going to be a danger. He sort of followed the ball. It was a short ball, wasn't it? And he followed it round, and it went to the left of Pereira, and he's right-handed bowler.

So he went to the left, and low down as he was moving, and an excellent two-hand. He got two hands to it, and a good catch, very good outfield catch. So, yeah, it has to be for me to get rid of the key man who's going well at the time. The next matches for them, Sri Lanka play against Pakistan in Bristol on Friday. Weather permitting, the forecast is not good at the moment. And then Afghanistan go to Taunton to play against New Zealand.

From what you've seen today, Mel and Jeremy, with both these teams in the competition, do you sense it's going to be pretty tough for them? It is, but you hope that the weather holds in Bristol, Because after a win, what you want to do is just keep playing. You want to have the opportunity of actually putting the good things that you did back into play and then sort of keep tweaking and refining things as you're going along. The last thing they need is a little bit of a hurdle of having a washed-out game and then having to try and restart again.

And they've played Pakistan on numerous occasions in terms of Asia Cup and the likes as well, so they know them pretty well. So for Sri Lanka's advancement into this tournament, I really hope they get the full game and some good weather so that they can put their best foot forward again. then, yeah, look, it's going to be tough for Afghanistan each and every game from here on in. But I think, again, even though it was a comprehensive loss against Australia and a tight one here today, you still sense as if they're just putting in their file all these little good moments

and hopefully they can put it together in one game coming forward. I think they're going to struggle, to be really honest. I don't think, well, there's spinning ranks. I don't know whether we've only saw one over of spin today and not very many about the same. against New Zealand. I think they are going to struggle. But, I mean, that's not to say that they can't improve. Of course, you're always aiming for that. They've got to address, as he mentioned, their batting. They had the luck that it was actually also a second game on this ground. I do think that helps. They had seen the pitch. They knew how it was going to

behave. They did include the extra seamer, and that did make a difference. He took four wickets as it happened, but they had enough seamers to see their way through and the difficulties. I don't know whether that would have happened with they had just kept their spiners operating. So that was important. And you know the angles in the ground and you've got the chain, you know with the change, you're already set up. That whole thing of knowing what's like and the conditions does help a little bit. So I think, but as far as the rest of the things, I do think they're going to just struggle. Do you think Sri Lanka or Afghanistan are going to win a match or another match in this World Cup? Put you on the spot.

haven't you? Oh look, anything's possible. And particularly with weather around and all of a sudden, you know, a variety of different conditions and situations like that, if it's a full, you know, bright, sunny day and, you know, everything's going well.

I think it's going to be tough for both sides. Yeah, strangely enough, it'll sound a bit weird, but I can sort of see Afghanistan winning a game somewhere. If these pitches change and get a little drier and they're reused pictures, I think that they're spinners,

which they didn't get much turned today from the surface, but I think if they do, they're going to be a different team to play. Can they get enough runs is always the question. From BBC Radio 5 Live, this is the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. In a short while, we'll talk about India who are finally about to play their first World Cup match, but before that, throughout this World Cup on this podcast, we'll have various features with the England team. If there's anything you'd like to hear, send us an email.

TMS at BBC.co.com.uk. Put podcast in the title. Today, we've asked Chris Wokes and Mark Wood to see if they can identify old tweets from their England teammates. Right, so... Hang on, let's just come... It's definitely one of the 15.

Yeah, because otherwise, I might miss one. Prepping the laptop for a trip to India, football manager, gossip girl and homeland all on. Any other suggestions? So who's into that football manager? Could be d'orse. Is he a gossip girl man, though? I'm just trying to think he was a football manager.

was like proper into their football manager. Joss? He loves his footie, but is he a football manager? Gossip, girl. Yeah. Never been. I'm going endorse. All right, Liam Dawson. Yeah, I'll back you. I'll back you. Let's see who it is. Joss Butler.

You called it. You called it as well. Spewery. That's bad for me to be better. It's all right. You want to get better. Actually enjoys a Bieber song as long as you love me. Mint beat. Hashtag tune. Hashtag not a believer.

Well, mint is something that I enjoy. They're good with you, mate. I don't think I said that, though. Stokesy? Mint, beet. Who says beat? Stokes. God be Stokes, aren't it?

Mint. Mint's a jolly thing. Tune, not a believer. Should we go Stokes? I'm going to go to Stokes. Ben Stokes. Ben Stokes, yes. Mint gave it away, isn't it?

I'm not a Biba man. I'm more like 9080s rock stuff. What have we got next? Clown's only starting to realise Beber is a boss after his new album. Always been a knicker with Flair Inc. Just an all-round chat, really. With Flair Inc.

You know who I reckon that might be? That could be Jop. I thought T-C. I'm just thinking of the language used. Go, I'm a Jop. Jop or T-C? He's over there. T-C.

Would you see a flying? You're a believer. You're a believer? T-C. T-C. T-C, yeah. Tom Curran. Tom Curran.

Love that. Love that. Right. Oh God, this has got to be you. Three cups of tea and a full pack of of chocolate hobnobs hashtag easily pleased see that that sounds very much like me but I can't remember writing that on Twitter Chris Walks loves a chocolate digested fact that's why I'm worried about it's hobnob's it's not what go-to you know that could be

morgues Morg's a big tea drinker go all this loves a good tea I like it I like it Owen Morgan ohin Morgan yes we haven't seen you just had a little slitch at the start we're ready any tips to help the tash to stop itching has anyone done like Morvamba. Bearstow? Bearstor has a good show, anyone else? He loves a question on Twitter as well.

Plunkard? He's got thick beard. Pudzi ain't going to say that. All right. Johnny Bearstow. Johnny Bearstow. Johnny Bearstow. Yes.

We know him, don't we know him? Not at all, a big issue in my life, but Australia has terrible Wi-Fi. You said before I started this, you know this. Yeah, but I was, if it's someone from this 15, I don't know it, but I was adamant and that was true abroad. It's something that Broddy would say. I love how they've put at the start

not at all the biggest tree in my life so they can get hammered onto it. I think Root. Do you? I haven't had Rudy yet. Yeah, it could be. I hope it's not me. Could be?

Is it you? I don't know. I wouldn't be you now. I don't think it is. I hope it's not. Should you check? Root. Liam Plunkett?

Pudze. I wouldn't feel like that. Arrived to the hotel for a bit of food, but an English breakfast is £22. Absolute Jokers. Two pounds, bacon baguette, taste better anyway. Hashtag, Cafe Brecky. Absolute Jokers.

That has got to be a yogh. That's Yorkshire. That's Georgia written all over that. Root. Nah, I don't know. It's got to be a bear store. Who says Jokers? Absolute Jokers. Who says jorcairce.

Jason Roy? Jason Roy? 7th of October, 2011. It's a long time ago. 22 Queen. It's before he played for England, didn't it? Yeah. He's not worried about it.

Cashing. Cash, yeah. How good is Friends? Never fails to make you laugh. Think it's down to Chandler, though. You've got a few friends. You? Nah.

Are you friends, man? I do like Friends, but Chandler's not my favourite. More of a Joey and Ross kind of guy. Could be Root. Could be... Punkin? Yeah, let's go. Chris Wokes.

Chris Wokes. You know what? Chadler. They hate Friends as well, now. I don't know. I genuinely don't remember doing that. Chadler? Are you Chandler, man?

Yeah, I'm a big. Channel fan, actually. All right. Fuck, awesome. 29th of June, could you be any happy around now? 2011, mate. Don't me that.

Very much enjoying university challenge. If I answer one right, I feel an incredible sense of achievement, truly spiffing. Hashtag Tallyho. That's got to be you. That's me, I. There's a little check.

Yeah, Mark Wood. Spiffing. It's a posh word in it. Truly spiffing. Tally-oh. I also put one out about whistling the theme tune Really? Yeah I didn't have me down as a friend's man

Yeah I'm disappointed with that I'm going to have to delete that tweet Could he be any more upset right now Cheers lads The TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup Well I hope you enjoyed that You can watch that video on the BBC Sport website

And app where you can also see match highlights throughout the tournament Thank you to everyone who emailed in about the argument between Fasia Mohammed and Graham Swan on yesterday's podcast on man-cadding. It seems to be the most divisive issue in the country at the moment. We've also been asking about where people are listening. George Walsh says I'm listening from Nakhon Pathom in Thailand, one of the oldest cities here and where Buddhism is purported to have taken root,

among other things, it is home to the country's largest chedy. What's that you say? Well, it's a bell-shaped pagoda. Freddie Eggleton. He's listening in a... stuffy hostel room and Hoy Ann, Vietnam. He's got his headphones on, Eggers, Dulcet tones, keeping the surrounding snores out of ear shot.

He hasn't mentioned you, Jeremy. No, he hasn't. And... And well done to William Fold's horn. He was born and raised. Hall. Hall. Horn. Where do I get horn from? And well done to William Folk.

Okay, we need to go. We need to get any. And well done to William Fold's Hall. Born and raised in Zimbabwe. lived in South Africa and Yorkshire, where my introduction to God's own country. Cricket was very good. My bed sit window overlooked headingly ground. I retired from the West Yorkshire Police to live in the USA with my American wife. He's been around the world. We live on the road in a motor home traveling the US working in campgrounds. I listen to your podcast while I work as a janitor in a nudist camp in North Florida.

Well, there you go. I don't know where this is going. Please keep those coming in TMS. put podcast in the title. Are these real? Are these people real? Are they just having a laugh? Do you think people are just pretending? I listened to your... Janitor and nudist camp. Do you think...

Do you think... Oh, dear, no. I'm not sure that's right. I think that's... I think that's made up. No, I don't want to ask him for photographic. From BBC Radio 5 Live. This is the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup.

So India are finally starting in this World Cup. They're playing South Africa, who are right up against it, after two defeats so far. And we've got the news that Dale Stain has been ruled out of the World Cup with a shoulder injury. He's been ruled out of bowling for the foreseeable future. Buren Hendrix has come in as a replacement for him. Let's speak to Natalie Jamanos now,

who's been with us during this World Cup so far, and Indian commentator Prakash Wakang, who joins us in this World Cup for the first time just arrived. And, of course, it's raining. That's good to see, Prakash. Now, you'd be actually, Prakash, just to start you first. You've been speaking to staying this morning. I mean, you bumped into him.

Yes, I ran into him. Simon, hi. Good, good to hear you. Yes, I did run into him just at the reception of the hotel downstairs and had a little chat with him and said to him that, you know, for all of us cricket lovers, it's going to be a real disappointment not to see him play and hope that he get back soon.

His spirit seemed pretty high. He said, that's the way the last two and a half years have been. So I'm thanking myself for every game I get. David Miller was with him. And he said, don't worry, he'll be back soon. But clearly a huge blow for South Africa, isn't it? Well, indeed, although he hasn't played so far. Natalie, I mean, just put this in context for South Africa.

I mean, he's had this injury for a while. not been as effective, of course, in the last couple of years as we've seen them in the past. You know, they're an absolute champion of the game. So put this in perspective as far as South Africa's World Cup is concerned. Well, I think the thing that South Africa will be really concerned about is that plan A was basically made around three bowlers. And those three bowlers, Kahisorabara, Lungi and Dale Stain was basically the plan for South Africa.

Oasis Gibson has said for a long time that he wants a team that's going to have a very strong bowling lineup and make it difficult for opposition batters and then obviously make it easier for the South African batters then to either knock off the score or have something that they've got to defend. So he's made no qualms about the fact that they want South Africa to have a very strong bowling lineup. And their plans have basically been around Dale Stain, Rabada and Ngiri. Unfortunately, because of a result of constant injuries, whether it be to Engidi or Stain or possibly even Rabada, they've had a situation where in the one-day internationals, these three have only ever played together three times.

So it is a little bit of a problem for South Africa because now Plan A, their major plan hasn't worked. They've got to now go on to Plan B. And with Inguid's injury, you might even say they're on Plan C or Plan D. So that does put a massive dent into their World Cup hopes. Obviously, the fact that they lost the first two games doesn't help either. But I think Dale Stain, if you look at him since he's come back from injury, he's still bowled at good pace.

He's still being able to swing the ball. He didn't change his action. which is incredible considering the injury. It's just unfortunate that he's now had a reoccurrence and he hasn't been able to keep his fitness up for as long as he's wanted to. Yeah, I saw a tweet from Fafte-Duclesi, said if Dale Stain hadn't gone to the IPL,

who knows how it could have been today, he did pick up the injury, you know, the reoccurrence of the injury during the IPL, but then I suppose that's the other thing for South African cricket is they're drawn to go and play in the IPL, for example, play a full part in the IPL, himself over there is so much money on offer it is impossible to resist it is impossible to resist and it's impossible for cricket south africa then to say to their players also you cannot go because cricket

south africa cannot make up that compensation but also dale stane went and played two matches bowled eight overs that's not even a full quota of an odi um game that he might have played so that injury was obviously there waiting to flare up so let's say he didn't go to the iPL that injury might have shown in the first or second game, possibly in the World Cup anyway. And then he would have had to go home. So it might not have made a difference. It might have made a difference. We'll never know, of course.

But you can't say to the players, I'm sorry, you cannot go to the IPL because cricket South Africa cannot make that compensation. At the press conference this afternoon, what was explained was that the specific injury that has caused the decision to be taken to let Dale Stain go back home is, in fact, And I don't know the technicalities, but it's apparently to do with a different part of the shoulder. And therefore, it's an injury which has sort of been spotted or came up to the fore during this buildup to getting him fully fit. So going with Natalie's point, it's one of those things. Would it have made a difference?

Would it have not? He bowled brilliantly those eight overs that he did. And it's just unfortunate, I think, for South Africa, that they are not going to be without their star bowler. I mean, there must be a concern, Natalie, that Stain is moving towards the end of his career at 35 years of age. He's persistent problems of late. You think it's almost certainly his last World Cup. What about his future? Yeah, well, this is the concern for South Africa, obviously, is now looking forward.

How do you move forward from here? Because he's taken a couple of years to get back on the park, and he worked really hard at it, and he deserved to be back on the park. park because he was bowling fit and ready. He did unfortunately suffer and bruised heel not said long ago either, which kept him out of a few games as well. But that's going to happen whether you've got the shoulder injury or not. That's not unusual for a fast bowler. So now from South Africa's point of view, what do they do? Obviously from his personal capacity, he has every right to go back, recover, do what he can do to get himself back on the park. He has said he wants to play 100 test

matches. He's seven short of that. Whether or not he'll get there, we don't know. No, but he has every right to go back, put the training in, and if you get selected, he gets selected. But South Africa have to look at this obviously now as if to say, well, he's 35 years of age. How long will it take him to recover? They've got a couple of really big series coming up. We've got England at home. They're going to India. It's a massive series that they've got coming up.

So the question is, do you move on and say, well, that's the end of Dale's Day or do you give him the opportunity to come back on the park? And it's a very difficult balance for South Africa. Well, they've had to move on today. Duren Hendricks has been called. He's only played a couple of one-day internationals. Tell us a bit about him. Yeah, he hasn't played a lot, but he did make his T20 international debut a little while back,

and he's done really well in the T20 format. He's picked up 16 records in the 10 matches that he's played, and he averages under 20 with the ball. He's a left armour, so it does give South Africa a little bit of variation. He can move the ball around, and he can also bowl at a decent pace as well. So I think from South Africa's point of view, it gives them a little bit of variation. but of course he is light on international game time.

And it might work in South Africa's favour in that he comes in, he's unscathed, and he's able to put out his best performances. He was with the squad for the Pakistan series recently where he made his one day international debut, played a couple of games there, and then with the T20 international squad as well. So I think South Africa will be hoping the fact that he's been there with the squad.

It'll help relax a little bit of nerves as much as possible. And he can just come in and just do what he does well, which is ball pretty quickly. obviously give South Africa a bit of variation. Well, a big game for South Africa against India. Prakash, late coming to the party, India, you better just explain. A lot of people are saying, why are India playing their first match and South Africa playing their third match?

I wish I knew. I suspect, and this is just my own sort of analysis of it, is that tomorrow is a holiday in India, it's the Eid holiday. And maybe they just wanted to make sure that India's first game was also on a holiday, get a good television audience, but this is just my thinking. India, of course, Virat Kohli today, typical Virat in his press conference, just saying it's another international game, but I do suspect he will want to get off to a good start, won't he? Well, absolutely. I mean, what we heard was that India asked for their entry into the World Cup to be delayed so that players

could recover off the back of the IPL. You're not so sure about that? Well, you know, everything is possible, but where India are concerned, there's always some sort of of a theory, isn't it, of either someone plotting this or that. And I doubt it. I've always said, Sam, and you know me, that, you know, there is a certain amount of cloud, but I don't think they can go out and fix when they want the World Cup games to be scheduled just because they want some rest from the IPL. That choice is always with them. Okay, well, they haven't played for eight days. They played here, actually, in Cardiff eight days ago against Bangladesh. They did okay. I mean, Doni batted really well.

They struggled at the top of the order. In what sort of shape are India going into this opening World Cup match? Indeed, going into the World Cup itself. Well, from what I can see, and I haven't really had a lot of time, as you know, just got in this afternoon. I'll catch up this evening with a couple of them. But, you know, given the Ravi Shastri Virat Koli combo, you know there's a lot of bluster going into everything, right?

There's a lot of Rara, there's a lot of confidence. And yet, at the Oval against New Zealand, a little bit of nip around and you saw what happened. So they'll be conscious of that. They will know that if conditions overhead in particular are not to their liking, they'll need to buckle down and wait for things to change. I don't think they are in the sort of best frame of mind from the perspective of seeing the way the other teams have played, knowing the upsets that have already occurred.

They will be, I think, cautiously optimistic going into this first game. Where are their vulnerabilities, do you think? Well, we've seen that, haven't we? Every time India has come to England and played in Lebedova's competition, the top three have performed so well that the middle order has never really been tested. And yet when it has, they haven't always come up with the goods. So I think the slot starting from number four, Rahul did get runs in Cardiff, so maybe that's his for a little while.

But after that, it often boils down to Doni. And we saw in the one-day series that India played against, England, not so long back here, that it does get them bogged down a little bit. They've got Dinesh Karthik around, they've got Vijayshankar, Kedar Jadav is coming off an injury. And of course, Hardik Pandya is somebody that they will count on with some late support from Jadeja. So on paper, as always, look very solid. But I suspect that unless they get off to good starts, they might just struggle in the middle order.

Now, we all did our tips, Prakash, for the BBC Sport website. who we thought would reach the last four of the World Cup and indeed go on and win the competition. Just remind me what you came up with. Well, I said it's England's World Cup to lose very clearly. You know, there's no doubt in my mind that they are the best equipped, probably the best side in terms of depth, variety, skill and confidence. And if they can just live up to that and play to their skill,

yesterday's game notwithstanding, I see no reason that England shouldn't be lifting the cup at lords in the middle of July. The other three teams, to my mind, are clearly going to be Australia, India, and a toss-up between Pakistan and the West Indies. Well, it's fascinatingly open after what's happened so far. Natalie, do you think this is quite a good game for South Africa in a way? No one's expecting very much for them, or does it really feel? so crucial now. They're going to be under tremendous

pressure in Southampton. I'm hoping that it's going to be the former in the sense of how they go about the game and how they sort of look at it as if to say this is the type of game. We must just go out there, play our best, enjoy ourselves, put everything out there and don't worry about the result. If they played like that,

I think South Africa could pull off something that might be quite special and maybe in a way pull off an upset because I think obviously many are expecting India to win tomorrow. But from South Africa's point of view, having a new personnel in, they've got to find a way to sort of see if they can manage that. And it puts a lot of pressure, obviously, on Fafthup to see. He's got to find a way to

manage the players that are coming in and out, the injuries, how he's going to sort of manage his own game plans as well. Are they going to go in with two spinners or not, is the question. And I think maybe that might be the way to go. If they throw caution to the wind and just say, all right, well, let's just play, I think they've got a real chance. But it is going to take something pretty special because there's no doubt that they must be feeling pretty low with regards to the results that's happened, but also the injuries as well, because it's not just Dale Stain, it's also Lungi Ngiri and Hashemamma as well. So it's a concern for South Africa, but if they just relax and play, it might be something

special and hopefully a really good game. Yeah. You feel, I mean, the logic tells you that a team that's already played two matches, I know they've lost them, but I'm going to be just a bit more on their game than the team that is just coming fresh into the tournament. I would think so, yes, because many will say to you, all right, well, the warm-up games, they are important to get an idea of the conditions, that type of thing, but many will also tell you, because it's so different in that all your 15 can play, all your 15 can come in as substitute, some can bat, some are there just to bowl, it's different. It's not the same as being out there for a one-day international. So sometimes people will say to the warm-up games don't necessarily matter too much. And then having that long break that India have had, it might disrupt their momentum just a little bit. Obviously, they might be 100% fresh and be ready.

But I think South Africa, they've had a measure of their team, of who is at what stage, what form they're in, also as to what roles everybody should be playing. And if they're clear on that, they should be using the two games that they've had as experience to their advantage. Yeah, indeed. One thing, Prakash is finally, one thing, of course, what South Africa probably hadn't come up against

in such an intense way so far is the level of support that India are going to get. I just thought watching that Pakistan England game yesterday we didn't see much Pakistan support in the one-day series but it was there yesterday and they fed off that and of course wherever India go especially in the UK wherever they go overseas especially in the UK there will be thousands of supporters backing them

so there's that you know what you're playing against Indian you're almost playing against the crowd as well Well, that's absolutely right, Simon, and it's unbelievable. I mean, just coming in on the flight from Mumbai, there were lots of people on that flight as well. Here in the UK, of course, lots of support. And it's manic. I mean, the kind of prices that people have been talking about tickets and the way and the efforts and the plans they've made from all the way from the United States, all the way across to the Caribbean and from New Zealand and South Australia. It's going to be an absolute sea of blue, I reckon, here in Southampton. Basingstoke, of course, is an area where there is a fairly large Indian community but then where is a place in the world that there isn't. So you're right, that there will be a lot of support for India.

The important thing is the 11 on the park have to perform, don't they? Okay, Prakash, Natalie, thanks very much. We look forward to India finally joining the party. Hello, this is Yamara, Mark Wood. Thanks for listening to the TMS podcast at the Cricket World Cup. There'll be new episodes each day through

the tournament, so make sure you've subscribed via your usual podcast app of our BBC Sounds where you can also hear commentary of every ball of the tournament. You can also email the team on TMS at BBC.com.

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