A chance for us to show our skills: Farbrace

England’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace said that his side was looking forward to its Friday’s clash against India which will decide Australia’s opponent on Sunday’s tri-series final here at the WACA.

England were seemingly in an advantageous position having beaten India with a bonus point but Monday’s washout against Australia gave India two points, making Friday’s match a shootout. “It didn’t help us but it’s probably what we want because it means Friday is effectively a semifinal and we want to put the boys under pressure and that’s what they’re going to be under on Friday,” Farbrace said here on Tuesday.

Ahead of the World Cup, Farbrace felt, it was an ideal situation for England to be playing two knockout games, provided they enter the final, against two best ODI sides at the moment.

“There are no concerns about bonus points or whatever… It’s a straight win game,” he noted. “Let’s be honest, we’ve talked a lot about developing and improvement but winning is the key and this is a chance for us to win a game and give ourselves another chance against Australia before the World Cup starts. I think we should be excited by the fact that effectively it’s a knockout game and an opportunity for the lads to show what they can do.”

England trounced India out in Brisbane, using the bounce on the pitch to good effect. With the Perth pitch not too dissimilar to the Gabba, England hope to have a similar result.

“Definitely, they’re the best two grounds we could have played India on, aren’t they,” he asked. “I think the bowlers will be running in excited about bowling here. We watched the Twenty20 game on Sunday and that was exciting to see. So I’d think the bowlers are looking forward. Equally, it’s a great wicket to bat on. Once you get in, it’s a very good place to bat as well,” he analysed.