Intro:

Australia all-rounder James Faulkner looks ahead to the Cricket World Cup semi-final against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) James Faulkner, Australia all-rounder (on intensity levels before semifinal):

"I thought obviously the intensity was quite high in the quarter final. So I'm expecting it to be the same if no higher again in the semifinal. Two very good teams going up against each other in a couple of days time and it should be a very good spectacle.
"We have come up against them a hell of a lot in the last 12-18 months. And you see now they have spent a fair bit of time in the country, so they have adapted well to the conditions. Look it is no surprise that they are up against us in the semifinal. They are a very strong team and I think we are as well, so it's going to be a great contest.

Every time I've come up against them it is a very good game of cricket, it's gone right down to the wire. I think if you go back on the Indian series, when we were over there, I think there were a lot of runs scored and a lot of great chases. Likewise when we played them here. But most teams have scored 300, and been there or thereabouts chasing it. They are good opposition and we are looking forward to Thursday. I think it is going to be a great occasion.

"I think a lot depends on the wicket. The last time we played here the wicket was obviously very good against Sri Lanka. We made 360 i think and they made over 300. So it was a great one day wicket. If it's much like that I'm expecting a lot of runs scored. If you look over the past between India and Australia, we played them over there in one day series, in recent ones or in Australia, we have seen a lot of runs. So I think that will what will happen, come game day."