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Television ratings for the IPL have continued to fall in comparison to 2011, but observers say the IPL is still a “very successful media property”

Tariq Engineer20-Apr-2012Television ratings for the IPL have continued to fall in comparison to 2011, but observers say the IPL is still a “very successful media property” and when it comes to ratings, it has been a victim of its own initial success.The average Television Viewer Ratings (TVR) for the first 16 games of 2012 was 3.65, down 8.75% from the average of 4.00 at the same point last season. (TVR is a time-weighted figure which accounts for time spent by viewers in addition to the number of viewers). The cumulative number of people who tuned in to watch those games also declined from 127.40 million to 122.44 million, a drop of 3%, according to TAM Sports, a division of Tam Media Research, the leading television ratings agency in India (“Cumulative reach” is the number of individuals who watched a channel/programme for at least one minute).However, the continued popularity of the league in relation to other television channels was reflected in the IPL [shown on Set Max] claiming the top five highest rated shows for the week from April 8 to April 14 and seven of the top 10, as reported by . The game that drew the highest rating was Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard-inspired defeat of Rajasthan Royals on April 11, which posted a TVR of 5.26. Mumbai Indians’ last-ball victory over Deccan Chargers on April 9 finished a close second, with a rating of 5.2.”Viewership may have dropped but give me any other property that gives that kind of TVRs,” Hiren Pandit, Managing Partner-Entertainment, Sports and Partnerships at Group M, a prominent media buying agency, told ESPNcricinfo. “That in itself says everything. The story is about, are you comparing the IPL to the IPL or are you comparing it to something else.”What we need to keep in mind is that any repeat has also delivered lower TVRs. At some point, it will settle down.”Typically, if a television program on a general entertainment channel posts an average TVR of 4.00, it is considered to be a success. At this stage in 2010, the IPL had an average rating for 4.61. However, with the IPL on television screens every day for seven weeks, even an average of 3.65 is an indication of a show with a strong appeal. “Getting a three-something TVR is not bad at all,” Santosh Desai, brand analyst and managing director of Future Brands, said. “To get it consistently on a daily basis is excellent. There is nothing that compares. You are talking about a very successful media property.”Of course, none of this is to say the league does not have its concerns. Prior to the season starting on April 4, Sony had reportedly only sold 60-70% of its total inventory (at a rate of around Rs 5 lakhs for a ten-second spot) and has fewer advertisers this year than last. Executives at Sony did not respond to calls or text messages seeking comment.According to Desai, the IPL’s biggest problem is that it was overpriced at the very beginning, with too many people trying to squeeze too much money out of it. Viewership for the tournament is also based on sentiment, he said, and sentiment can change very quickly. “When the tide turns, then it can turn dramatically.”One potential explanation for the decline in ratings, Desai said, is that some of the non-cricketing audiences that took to the IPL in earlier years are now returning to their normal viewing habits. “The moment you decide to watch the IPL, you decide not to watch something else. So I think what you are seeing is a tipping of the balance back and a return to normal programming by the non-cricketing audience.”Pandit expects the ratings to be improve thanks the recent spate of close games and said that in the ultimate analysis, the league’s continued appeal with viewers will depend on the quality of the cricket and not the entertainment that surrounds it. If the matches are exciting, then “you don’t want to miss out when someone in the office tells you, ‘did you see the match last night?'”

Celtic goalkeepers Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain should be sold in the summer transfer window, according to former Hoops striker Frank McAvennie.

The Lowdown: Celtic pair out of favour

Joe Hart has been the Bhoys’ undisputed first-choice ‘keeper this season, producing some excellent performances and ensuring that they lie on the cusp of winning the Premiership title.

Two players who have duly featured very sporadically are backup stoppers Barkas and Bain, having made just six appearances between them in all competitions in 2021/22.

The Greece international has been linked with a summer exit in recent days, and it could be the case that both are moved on to pastures new at the end of the season.

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The Latest: McAvennie wants Celtic duo gone

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie believes that both Barkas and Bain ought to be offloaded, claiming that they are no longer at the level required for Celtic. The 62-year-old said:

“You wonder who we will bring in. Hart has been absolutely brilliant, maybe the signing of the season and he been reliable.

“Barkas and Bain are absolutely nowhere near the required standard and they haven’t been for a long time. Getting rid of the both, that’s not a problem for me. I have no issues with that.

“It could even be a younger player to come in and learn from Joe Hart.  One thing I can say, is that I have total confidence that whoever we sign will be quality.

“We haven’t really made a bad transfer since Ange came in, he knows what he is doing. So let’s see what happens but I’m more than happy for Bain and Brkas to move on.”

The Verdict: Time for a new challenge

The main thing for Celtic now is for Ange Postecoglou to build a bigger and more superior squad, ensuring that his side enjoy a period of dominance in Scotland, not to mention returning to the Champions League and holding their own in that competition.

Neither Barkas nor Bain have greatly impressed on the rare occasions that they have been given a chance this term, so it’s understandable by McAvennie is calling for the pair to be offloaded over the summer.

While Hart should be first-choice moving forward, a backup of similar quality to him wouldn’t go amiss, and ideally the Hoops will bring in someone who can be genuinely trusted over a sustained period if the English veteran picks up an injury.

A younger alternative would make the most sense, potentially being viewed as the future first-choice between the sticks and eventually usurping the ageing Hart in the role.

In other news, a pundit has hailed the improvement of one Celtic hero. Find out who it is here.

Liverpool must seal a move for Benfica striker Henrique Araújo this summer, as he could be manager Jurgen Klopp’s next Diogo Jota.

According to a recent report from Mexican outlet Mundo Deportivo, the Reds are interested in signing the player but face competition from Premier League rivals Manchester City and Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

The 20-year old has produced some impressive performances in Benfica’s youth set-up this season and as a result, has admirers across Europe. He has appeared 34 times this season scoring 17 goals including one for the senior team.

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It includes an impressive hat-trick in Benfica’s victory over RB Leipzig in the UEFA Youth League final, which were his first goals in the competition. With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that he’s been described as a “poacher” by scout Jacek Kulig, who also hailed his finishing, instinct and movement.

Despite the interest he has received from abroad, Benfica are reluctant to let him go. At such a young age he could have more of an impact on the team and eventually fetch a higher fee if he stays longer. He’s contracted until 2024 so it would take a big offer to get hold of him now.

He is represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes which may be one of the reasons he has been linked to some of Europe’s biggest sides. Liverpool are no stranger to dealing with Mendes, having negotiated a £41m move for Diogo Jota, who is also represented by him, back in 2020.

They could repeat this move by signing Araújo who could learn from his compatriot and work with one of the best managers in the world in Klopp who could transform him into a world star.

Liverpool also require a replacement for Divock Origi who is likely to leave when his contract expires in the summer.

The Reds seem to have an advantage over their rivals when it comes to signing him, Barcelona are ‘not in the mood’ to make a big investment, and it’s likely any move for the Portuguese U21 international would require that.

Man City also have their sights set elsewhere after they have reportedly agreed terms with Erling Haaland. With others distracted it may be the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to swoop in and secure the deal. Whilst they might have to pay more, they will face stronger competition in the future.

IN other news: Liverpool plot bid to sign “unplayable” £31.5m-rated gem, he could be another Diaz…

Liverpool now look to set miss out on one of their transfer targets.

What’s the story?

That’s according to claims in Italy, via CaughtOffside, who claim that Renato Sanches will swerve a move to Liverpool with the 24-year-old set to make the move to AC Milan instead for around €20m with add-ons worth up to €5m.

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It had been reported in Spain that the Reds were in advanced talks to sign Sanches in January with Jurgen Klopp identifying the Portuguese star as an ideal replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, but a move never materialised.

Klopp will be fuming

Although Klopp and his players will be directing their full attention to the Premier League title race, there is no doubt that potential signings are being worked on and identified behind the scenes ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Merseyside outfit are neck-and-neck with Manchester City in the race for the title, with the Reds just one point behind Pep Guardiola’s men with four matches to go.

Naturally, winning the title will boost Liverpool’s chances of luring targets to Anfield over the summer, although, the colossal scale of the English juggernaut will make them an appealing prospect to any potential suitors.

If you were to find any weakness in Klopp’s squad (and it’s very hard), it can be argued that the midfield could do with higher quality depth.

Currently, the likes of Thiago, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho have been excellent whilst James Milner, despite being his hard-working self, is out of contract in the summer.

After the aforementioned quartet, Liverpool have Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita in their roster, with only Keita managing to surpass 30 appearances for the season.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is another whose current deal at Anfield is approaching the latter stages, with the Englishman’s contract set to expire next summer and therefore the Reds could be tempted to cash in on the 28-year-old in the upcoming window.

In Ligue 1, Sanches has averaged a 7.14/10 rating this term, a higher league rating than any of Jones (6.93), Oxlade-Chamberlain (6.86) and Keita (7.12).

Therefore, there is no doubt that the 24-year-old would’ve added quality to Liverpool’s midfield depth, something that will be essential if the Reds are to repeat this season’s colossal effort of winning the League Cup whilst reaching the FA Cup final, looking set to reach the Champions League final as well as being a hair-width away from first place in the Premier League.

Missing out on Sanches is certainly a setback and will leave Klopp fuming.

AND in other news, Liverpool now plotting £85m bid for “phenomenal” starlet, Klopp would love him…

Karsan Ghavri, the former India allrounder who currently heads the BCCI’s bowling academy in Mohali, has said bowling camps need to be longer if players are to develop through the academies

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Aug-2011Karsan Ghavri, the former India allrounder who currently heads the BCCI’s bowling academy in Mohali, has said bowling camps need to be longer if players are to develop through the academies. Around 120 bowlers have come through the Mohali-based academy, with state associations sending players in the age group of 17-19 years. But Ghavri said the quality of youngsters coming to the camp was not always up to the mark, and he was yet to see a fast bowler who could bowl at 140kph.”Out of the 120 boys we have trained so far, we have shortlisted around 15 boys who are good and some of them bowl at 135kph in the nets,” he said. “But I haven’t seen a fast bowler touching 140kph still.”Most of the boys either have a faulty run-up or fail to adjust their body balance. We try to correct them as much as we can but three weeks is not enough. Each camp should be of, at least, five to six weeks to allow us to fine-tune their skills. Then we can accommodate more matches to check on their match fitness and introduce more modern drills for a lengthier period.”India’s bowling reserves have come under the scanner after they failed to recover from the loss of Zaheer Khan in their 0-4 Test series loss in England. Ghavri said the BCCI needed to take more responsibility, firstly in identifying talent, and then nurturing it. “The BCCI must urge the state units to ensure they identify true talent and send them here for training. There’s no point working on bowlers who don’t have it in them to make it big. We also expect the Board to communicate, come and see how things are being run here. More accountability is required from the BCCI.”The boys come to the academy only for three weeks, but what happens after that? They have to be looked after in the future and the BCCI should play a larger role here.”Another thing Ghavri said was long overdue in India was the introduction of faster pitches to hone seamers. “It is not that India cannot produce a fast bowler or that India cannot produce a fast wicket. Both things are possible and are dependent on each other.”We don’t have great spinners in our national team now. We have reasonably good medium-fast bowlers and there are some more coming up. So, to encourage them, we need to make fast tracks. It’s important now that India start playing their domestic matches on hard grassy wickets.”Another thing called into question during the England series was the fitness of India’s bowling attack that bowled England out just once during the four Tests. Former India fast bowlers Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad both said the solution was for India’s quicks to bowl more in first-class cricket. “Fast bowlers need to keep bowling, whether it is in first-class or Test cricket. There’s no point in resting them exceedingly,” Prasad told . “The key is to remain fit, keep bowling, and keep up that urge.”Srinath said there was quality among India’s current crop of fast bowlers but they needed to play the longer formats, preferably abroad, as opposed to Twenty20 cricket in India. “Guys like Sreesanth and Ishant [Sharma] need to bowl at least 1200 overs a year, with at least 500 or 600 of them in county cricket in England, or in Australia or other first-class matches. Both are quality bowlers and there’s no reason to believe they are not as good as the English bowlers. They just need to keep bowling which is the only way to play at the highest level for 10-12 years. England ensure that even their senior bowlers go back and play county cricket between Tests. Our bowlers need to embrace that culture.”There’s no point playing ODIs and IPL, and then going on a Test tour to England. It’s unfair to blame the bowlers alone.”

Hampshire allrounder Liam Dawson has signed on as as the overseas player for the Zimbabwe franchise Mountaineers

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-2011Hampshire allrounder Liam Dawson has signed on as the overseas player for the Zimbabwe franchise Mountaineers.Dawson, 21, scored 908 runs for Hampshire in the County Championship Division One at an average of 36.32 including two centuries and also picked up three wickets. Hampshire finished at the bottom of the points table and were relegated to the second division.”I’ve never been over there [Zimbabwe] before but I’ve got to be prepared because there’s extra pressure and responsibility as an overseas player,” Dawson said. “You’ve got to prove that you’re good enough to take their overseas place – there should be a few other players from England out there too.”

Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has termed the ICC’s warning to the PCB to clean up its act as a “shame”

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2010Imran Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has termed the ICC’s warning to the PCB to clean up its act as a “shame”, and reiterated his stance calling for an overhaul of the current administration. Imran also criticised the influence of politics on the affairs of the board.Last week, the ICC, taking notice of the continuing decline of governance in Pakistan cricket, particularly since the spot-fixing controversy and the subsequent suspensions of three players, cautioned the board to fix its administration and introduce its own anti-corruption measures or face the consequences, potentially in the form of sanctions.”For years now our players have been linked to corruption,” Imran said. “When the spot-fixing allegations first came out against our players in the newspaper, the PCB itself should have taken action against the players instead of waiting for the ICC to step in.”Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammed Amir were provisionally suspended by the ICC for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s. “The ICC move to warn us and put us on notice is a shameful day for every Pakistani. It is a shame for Pakistan cricket and the reason is we don’t have any cricket institution in Pakistan,” Imran said.Cricketing relations between Pakistan and England took a turn for the worse when Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, suggested some England players might have been involved in spot-fixing during the ODI series – an allegation he retracted and apologised for when threatened with legal action. Imran was highly critical of the board chief. “Ijaz Butt’s governance has been a failure. He should have resigned the moment he apologised to the England board and withdraw his statement because they threatened him with legal action.”The patron-in-chief of the PCB is the president of Pakistan – currently Asif Ali Zardari – and Imran said the interference of politics in cricket was unacceptable. “Tell me in which country does the president appoint the chairman of the cricket board,” he said.”Today we face problems because the cricket board never took action against players accused of match-fixing. In order to save itself and to ensure we didn’t lose key players the administrators were reluctant to carry out and complete investigations against such players.”

Everton are in a vulnerable position this season and have now found themselves in the relegation zone following their defeat in the Merseyside Derby, however, despite the struggles the club are still linked with transfer interests this summer.

What’s the latest

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Calciomercato), there are several Premier League clubs interested in signing Torino player Wilfried Singo, including Everton.

The report suggests that the club could make an offer for Singo, competing with Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham and Leicester to secure his signature this summer.

Better than Iwobi

The 21-year-old has been performing at a high level for his Italian club, and has been deployed in predominantly a right midfield position this season but can also play right-back.

Singo, who was hailed a “revelation” by journalist Matteo Bonetti, has become more of an attacking threat for his Serie A team this season scoring three goals and contributing four assists, winning the majority of his duels (58%), making 1.6 tackles and 1.4 clearances on average per game, proving he can impose an attacking threat as well as providing defensive qualities.

With that being said, the Ivorian national could be the perfect upgrade for Alex Iwobi this summer following a disappointing stint at Goodison Park over the last three years.

Iwobi has only scored seven goals in 91 appearances for Everton, and despite playing on the left compared to Singo on the right, the impact in comparison that the latter could provide for the club would be huge if he can emulate his performances for Torino on Merseyside next season.

Frank Lampard has been giving Iwobi his second chance in the team since arriving in January, becoming a consistent player in the team and despite scoring the winner against Newcastle United last month has otherwise not positively impacted the team to secure safety from relegation this season so far.

Everton may have competition to sign the in-demand £13.5m-rated star, and it could be much harder to add Singo into the team if they drop into the Championship this season and Premier League clubs make a move for him. Therefore, the Toffees boss will need to work hard to make sure that he can secure top-flight football in the remaining games.

AND in other news: Frank set for disaster on “fabulous” £5.1k-p/w gem, EFC supporters may not forgive him

England are back in the knock-outs for the first time in four World Cups, and given the excitement they have served up in the past month, their Colombo encounter once again has the makings of a humdinger

The Preview by Andrew Miller25-Mar-2011Match FactsMarch 26, Colombo
Start time 2.30pm (0900 GMT)Graeme Swann’s expertise will be invaluable for England as they seek to stifle a talented Sri Lankan batting order•Getty ImagesThe Big PictureFifteen years ago this month, England and Sri Lanka met at the same quarter-final stage of the 1996 World Cup, only for an epoch-changing contest to pan out in front of an astounded crowd in Faisalabad. With his remarkable 82 from 44 balls, Sanath Jayasuriya not only ignited Sri Lanka’s charge towards their maiden global title, he signalled the end of England as a force in one-day cricket, as they failed to reach the last four of the World Cup for the first time in the tournament’s history.Since that match, the fortunes and expectations associated with the two teams have been flipped on their head. Sri Lanka went on to crush Australia in the 1996 final in Lahore, and have since contested a semi-final in 2003 and another final four years later in Barbados. England, on the other hand, have found a range of ignominious means to bomb out at the earliest opportunity – a trait they came perilously close to emulating this time around as well, following their embarrassments at the hands of Ireland and Bangladesh.But regardless of their numerous scares along the way, England are back in the knockouts for the first time in four World Cups, and given the excitement they have served up in the past month, their Colombo encounter once again has the makings of a humdinger. It is doubtless being greedy to expect their seventh consecutive contest to go down to the wire, but the one and only constant in England’s skittish campaign has been their ability to raise their game against more fancied opposition. And make no mistake, Sri Lanka on home soil present a formidable challenge – arguably the toughest assignment that any of the quarter-finalists could have landed.Four years ago in the Caribbean, the Sri Lankans were by some distance the best of the rest – the only team worthy of facing Ricky Ponting’s invincible Australians in the final. That they failed to bring home the spoils was no disgrace whatsoever, but while Ponting and his colleagues have since been vanquished at long last, Sri Lanka are arguably a stronger outfit than ever before. Eight of the 11 men who played in that final remain in their squad today, but crucially, sentiment has played next to no part in that fact. Two legends in Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas have been put out to pasture, leaving the stage clear for the likes of Ajantha Mendis and Angelo Mathews to bid for their own indelible mark on the tournament’s history.To judge by the narrative of their campaign to date, England will relish their underdog status – for it is a peculiar fact that of the eight quarter-finalists, they are the only side to boast an unbeaten record in matches against their fellow qualifiers. They salvaged a tie against India before out-muscling South Africa and West Indies in a pair of Chennai thrillers, and their never-say-die spirit will doubtless prove invaluable at some stage of a high-octane encounter.But can sheer tenacity prevail against a team so brimful with talented campaigners? Sri Lanka’s top-order triumvirate of Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara is second only to India in terms of scorecard menace, while the breadth and variety of their attack is hard to rival – Lasith Malinga’s slingers and Muttiah Muralitharan’s enduring class epitomise the two extremes of a line-up that has men for all seasons and conditions. “It’s going to be a significant challenge for us,” remarked Andrew Strauss, never a man to cares to overstate the case.At least England have had a chance to put down some roots in the course of an itinerant campaign. They’ve had nine days of down-time since their decisive victory in Chennai, and the past week has been spent in the pleasant environs of Colombo, where they will remain in the event of progressing to the semi-final. Nevertheless, the sad news of Michael Yardy’s early departure to the UK once again speaks of a squad that is clinging on at the end of a draining winter, rather than clicking through its gears as the grandest prize draws closer. How many more “last big efforts” have they got in them?Form guide(completed matches, most recent first)

Sri Lanka WWWLW
England WLWLTWatch out for…It was on England’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2007-08 that Graeme Swann first showcased the skills and mindset that have since propelled him to the upper echelons of the international game. It was his first England tour since his ill-fated debut in South Africa seven years earlier, and with seven wickets at 22.28 in his four games, his determination to grasp his second chance was tangible. That refusal to surrender has driven England’s sketchy challenge throughout this World Cup, even in Chittagong when a dew-sodden ball drove him to distraction. He was immense in both Chennai victories, and his touch of class will be invaluable against such potent opposition.After 492 international appearances, 1343 wickets and almost 63,000 deliveries in a 19-year career, Muttiah Muralitharan is now a maximum of three matches and 180 balls from bidding farewell to the global stage. And in the event of an England win on Saturday, it will all end precisely where it began against Australia in August 1992, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Murali, however, will not care a jot for such elegant symmetry – even as he approaches his 40th year, he remains as fiercely competitive and enthusiastic as ever. And, as his four-wicket haul against New Zealand last week demonstrated, his wiles cannot be trifled with, least of all by an England team whose collective performance against spin has been leaden-footed in the tournament to date.Team newsAfter a difficult tournament, Yardy was never likely to feature in this showdown, though his departure has been an understandable disruption to England’s preparations, with Adil Rashid – his nominated replacement – still finding his way to Sri Lanka from the Caribbean. Tim Bresnan’s troublesome calf has flared up once again, though he came through a fitness test without any visible concerns and has been passed fit for selection. Jade Dernbach, the surprise replacement for Ajmal Shahzad, has been preparing all week as if he is going to play, although James Anderson’s big-match experience ought to earn him a recall following a fortnight out of the firing line. The identity of Strauss’s opening partner has been confirmed within the squad, with Ian Bell believed to be the chosen man.England (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ravi Bopara, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Luke Wright, 8 Tim Bresnan, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Tredwell, 11 James Anderson.Fewer dilemmas for Sri Lanka to consider, especially now that Murali has been declared “100% fit” by his captain Kumar Sangakkara after struggling through the New Zealand victory with a hamstring strain. Sangakkara also acknowledged the potential weakness of Sri Lanka’s untested middle order, but backed Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, angelo Mathews and Chamara Kapugedera as “the best players we have to do that job”. One of the Chamaras – Silva and Kapu – seems set to miss out.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Chamara Kapugedera, 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Lasith Malinga, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Ajantha Mendis..The pitch is flat, as they generally tend to be at the Premadasa, although the threat of thunderstorms adds an extra factor to the team’s preparations. Afternoon showers on the eve of the game caused the entire outfield to be covered in tarpaulins, which may just sweat a bit more moisture to the surface for the seamers.Stats and trivia England and Sri Lanka have faced each other on eight previous occasions in World Cup history, and though England eased to victory in each of the first five of those encounters from 1979 to 1992, they have lost two of the last three – including a thrilling two-run margin in Antigua four years ago. The overall head-to-head for the two teams could scarcely be tighter. In 44 contests, England have won 23 and Sri Lanka 21. However, Sri Lanka have won eight of their last 12 encounters, dating back to 2006. England did, however, achieve a notable success on their last one-day tour of Sri Lanka in October 2007 – Swann’s aforementioned comeback tour. Despite losing the first game of a five-match series, they bounced back to win each of the next three for a well-deserved 3-2 victory.Quotes”It’s not difficult for us to focus our minds on this game of cricket. It is a massive game. If we lose we’re on the plane home; if we win we’re in the semi-finals.”
Andrew Strauss believes England’s off-field distractions will be of no consequence.“It’s do-or-die for all the teams when you get to the quarter-finals. That incentive is going to be there, and both sides will feel that intensity and that pressure equally.”Kumar Sangakkara prepares for his team’s biggest match of the tournament to date.

England have just not got their basics right in the ongoing ODI series, batsman Jonathan Trott has said, while India are a much improved side to what they were during their tour of England

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2011England batsman Jonathan Trott has said that his team have not managed to get their basics right so far in the ODI series against India. The visitors, he said, have lost key moments in the games so far, contributing to the 3-0 scoreline.”I just think we haven’t played as well as we did in England. Our basics haven’t been up to scratch. Things like big partnerships, fielding …” Trott told on the eve of the fourth ODI in Mumbai. “I think India have played well. They will admit they’ve played a lot better than what they did in the summer. But there are two games to go and a good performance in those games would give us a spring while going back.”I can’t pinpoint the exact reason [for England’s losses]. I think we lost key periods of the games or India played well in the key periods of the games.”Trott made an unbeaten 98 off 116 balls in the third ODI in Mohali, the main contributor in England’s total of 298. India, though, chased down the target with four balls and five wickets to spare. Trott said it was an improved performance by England, but it would have helped if he and Ravi Bopara had made better use of the batting Powerplay. “I think we played well the other night. Got a good total – I think 298 the other night is among England’s highest scores in India – but just could not get across the line.”I think Ravi and I could have pushed it a little bit. I think Ravi got out in the third Powerplay. So when we lose wickets, it puts the brakes on. Historically, we haven’t done well in Powerplays. We would be looking to do that right.”The spotlight has been on England’s on-field conduct – throughout the series the players have been agitated in the field – but Trott played down the issue. “Whichever XI takes the field, they are highly motivated to win,” he said. “I think guys get across very well. It just comes across differently on TV. We get the best out of each other. Sometimes you go out of way to do it, and things happen in the heat of the moment.”Trott said Ajinkya Rahane, who made 91 in Mohali, had the look of a fine player. “I played against him in the 2007-08 Duleep Trophy game [between England Lions and West Zone] and he got some runs against us. I always felt he’s a good player. He played quite well the other night.”Meanwhile, England are working out India’s spinners, he said. “They [Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin] are very good spinners – if you are a spin bowler playing for India, you have to be very good. I’ve been very keen on how to bat against them for three games in a row. Like with everything else, you need to realise [be aware of] every challenge. I think we are getting better and better against them.”