Must win match ahead for India and England

Defending champions are on the brink of elimination but you wouldn't guess it so looking at how nonchalant premier batsman Yuvraj Singh Singh or the Indian team was ahead of the all-important game against England.

"We have won almost 80 per cent of our matches in recent times and I think we have an edge over England," stated Yuvraj, star of Indian response to West Indies yesterday even though the defending champions ended up losers by seven wickets.

Obviously the Indian team also thought along the same lines as they didn't turn up for practice at the nets which you thought was absolutely vital given skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had himself termed his team's fielding as an area fit for improvement.

India face a make-or-break game against England on Sunday and needs to get better in the field. But they chose not to hone their skills at Lord's today.

"We do not think as you think. If players are not seen it doesn't mean they are not focussed. Some guys could be training in the gym and some could be choosing to relax by having a coffee," said Yuvraj.

Inevitably, Yuvraj was asked to relive his glorious moment of six sixes off Stuart Broad and whether he could do it again at Lord's tomorrow.

"It was a special moment and it's at the back of my mind. But it's a new game and a new day tomorrow."

Yuvraj though showed he didn't live in the past as he praised Broad for the progress he has made in the last two years.

"He has improved a great deal and is now a supreme bowler, the one who took most wickets in the ODI last year."

He also didn't believe his on-field rivalry with Kevin Pietersen stretched beyond the ropes of a cricket field.

"We do spur each other on. I look forward to bowling him and he calling me a pie-chucker. We have a healthy rivalry on-field but we are friends off it."

Yuvraj had played a sumptuous knock on Friday against the West Indies and a particular pick-up, a firm-jab off Jerome Taylor over midwicket for six, was a particularly stand-out shot.

"It's a shot which I have practiced a great deal in the past few months. It gives me a great satisfaction when it comes off."

Yuvraj has been in irresistible form in the tournament, having struck 41 off 18 balls against Bangladesh and now striking 67 off 43 balls against the West Indies. He believed his team would stay on - and he would be in the thick of it - as the tournament goes on.