England prepare for semi-final test

England have started their homework already as they plot the downfall of Sri Lanka in Thursday's ICC World Twenty20 semi-final.

Paul Collingwood's team have revelled in demonstrating their exciting and canny cricket in the shortest format of the game over the past two weeks. It has carried them through an awkward group qualifying stage in rainy Guyana and then flourished in a perfect Super Eight campaign, which ensured they avoided fellow group winners Australia in the last four.

England all-rounder Tim Bresnan does not lack for confidence in his or his team's ability and said: "If we keep playing the brand of cricket we can play, it doesn't really matter who we play against. We'll do our homework before, put our plans in place. We'll have respect for the opposition but we won't be scared of anyone."

Bresnan has been trusted by Collingwood and coach Andy Flower with new-ball and death bowling and a potentially pivotal batting position of number seven.

He is relishing the responsibility as just one component in a hugely talented Twenty20 team.

"We're quite smart as a bowling group and getting smarter all the time," he added. "We make the batters hit into the wind, especially when the boundaries are so big (in St Lucia), and that means they're playing into our hands.

"That will be a big factor in our gameplan."

As for the onus on him to set the tone with the ball, Bresnan actually believes his initial task - alongside fellow Yorkshireman Ryan Sidebottom - can be a little less precarious than those that follow.

"I think the first over is almost easier than bowling the third or fourth," he added.

"If you bowl it where you want to - back of a length and straight - with a little bit of variation, especially if it swings as well, the batsmen are just going to have a little bit of a look at you."