Pride in lions will spur England on

Sunday 23 September 2012

Stuart Broad's defending champions will play for the pride of England, rather than any real ICC World Twenty20 reward when they meet India today.

Broad has to convince his side something's at stake

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Trevor Bailey

The structure of this tournament dictates that once the routine business of beating a group minnow – Afghanistan in England and India's case – is safely done, the two heavyweights lock horns without direct consequence.

The Super Eight venues and oppositions for both teams will not change, irrespective of the outcome under the Premadasa Stadium lights.But Captain Broad does have to ensure his team convince themselves that something is at stake.Asked what that might be, the England captain surprisingly avoided that great abstract notion of all cricket tournaments and series – "momentum".National pride, instead, will be his motivation – and, by natural consequence, his team's too."I think it's hard to call any game meaningless when you're putting on the Three Lions of England and you're taking the field as an international," said Broad."Whether it is a must-win for us or whether we don't have to win to go through, it won't change the way our approach to the game."Broad is heartened that, quite apart from Friday's ruthless 116-run dismissal of Afghanistan on the back of a brilliant 99 not out from Luke Wright, England have been toughened up for this assignment by some pedigree opposition. A drawn home series against South Africa preceded hard-fought warm-up wins against Australia and then Pakistan."It's not like we're coming up against India and it's our first real challenge in the last few weeks," he said. "We do know the dangers they offer. But if we focus on what we did really well against Afghanistan, we can be a challenge for anyone.Broad has great respect for an opposition line-up – under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni – crammed with superstar talent, but is confident England can match them at every step."We know the dangers they offer – they've played a lot of Twenty20 cricket domestically and internationally," he added.One of the biggest names in India's batting order is Yuvraj Singh, back after his battle with lung cancer.Broad is full of admiration for a player who hit him for six sixes in an over in the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament five years ago."It's great to see him back playing for India; we know what a dangerous player he is, and he's someone you look out for and do your research on," Broad said.In Kevin Pietersen's absence, others – most recently Wright – are making enough runs to serve England well.But Broad's opposite number insists the unavailability of Pietersen makes England less formidable."If Pietersen was part of their side they would be a slightly more difficult side to beat," said Dhoni.

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Pride in lions will spur England on

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