Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"We've been away from home so long that we haven't heard much about the General Election. But all the politics around Pietersen is much more interesting. Surrey will start the season in Cardiff on 19 April - but if KP signs for them, will he go out and score second-division runs in abundance? Rightly or wrongly, this will dominate a lot of the cricketing talk in England."

Who needs EastEnders when you've got the England cricket team? Not content with getting knocked out of the World Cup embarrassingly early, England seem determined to stay in the headlines for the wrong reasons. In the last few days alone, we've seen Test captain Alastair Cook criticize the selectors for dropping him as ODI skipper just two months before the start of the World Cup and a seeming lack of communication between the hierarchy at the ECB over Kevin Pietersen's international future.

As former England skipper Michael Vaughan told TMS: "It is a soap opera. If any producer is willing, make a movie." You can read an offbeat look at England's "soap opera" on the BBC Sport website: does Captain Cook fill the role of Dirty Den or Arthur Fowler?

Image source, Getty Images

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I feel like Donald Rumsfeld on this Pietersen situation - we have 'known unknowns' and 'unknown unknowns'. Clearly there are mixed messages coming out of the ECB: Pietersen has been speaking to Colin Graves, but the chairman of selectors James Whitaker has said several times that 'he is not part of our plans'. It's quite hard to envisage Pietersen playing for England with the current management team in place. But if they have a disastrous time in the Caribbean, that might be the catalyst for significant changes."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

Kishin Mahtani: All the quarter-finals have been one sided and boring. Australia to chase this in 30-35 overs.

His back may be knackered and his hamstrings giving him stick, but Aussie skipper Michael Clarke is adamant that he will not be retiring from ODI cricket at the end of this World Cup. Clarke missed Australia's opening World Cup victory over England, but has forced his way back into the side, helping them to victories over Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Scotland, with scores of 68 and 47 against the last two respectively. Speaking before today's game, the 33-year-old had this to say to his doubters...

"I have played over 200 one-dayers and over 100 Test matches so it hasn't stopped me to date. I don't think it will do after this series either."

Image source, AFP

Evan Byrne: Given that KP thinks he should have a face-to-face meeting with Colin Graves about being reinstated (or should that be re-reintegrated?), I would encourage Michael Carberry and Nick Compton to go on national media to say that they would like a face to face with Colin Graves, too. They might like to point out that they would not undermine the captain or try to have the coach sacked...

If you weren't with TMS earlier, guest summariser Kevin Pietersen has been speaking further about his hopes of returning to the England team. He says returning in this summer's Ashes would like being "reborn".

Pietersen said: "I have had conversations with the chairman [incoming ECB chief Colin Graves] but I think what we need to do is sit down and do it face to face. I don't think me speaking on a telephone is the way forward in making big decisions.

"I love what Colin Graves has done for Yorkshire. It's an exciting time so to be part of that would be amazing."

You can read more from KP on the BBC Sport website.

Haris Hameed: Pakistan scored 212 in 1992 and won. This time they have gone one run better and scored 213. Hoping for another win.

Muhammad Tausif: Pakistan's 200 = Rest of the world 300.

Having checked in with Graeme Swann in Wellington, TMS are now looking back at the 1992 World Cup, when Imran Khan's "cornered tigers" won the final for Pakistan against England. It's arguably all been downhill for England in ODI cricket since then...

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

On New Zealand v West Indies tomorrow:

"New Zealand have never been an easy team to beat, but the difference between 11 characters who believe in themselves and 11 really down on confidence is the difference between New Zealand and England. I believe Vettori could make the difference for New Zealand as Australia have never done well against him. He's not really tried to spin the ball for the past five years, he's very canny and can bowl absolutely anywhere."

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

Thanks, James. So, co-hosts Australia to breeze it, or ever-unpredictable Pakistan to pull off a big shock? Let us know what you think.

While you're taking part in our "best bowler" vote, feel free to text, tweet or email us with your selection - and your reasons why. Any Scots or Somerset fans out there making a case for Josh Davey?

Right, time for me to leave you and hand over the controls to Mark Mitchener, who will talk you through the first part of Australia's reply.

Time to ask you to get voting. A simple question: who has been the best bowler at the World Cup?

The contenders we've selected: Mitchell Starc, Mohammed Shami, Trent Boult, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Wahab Riaz, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Dale Steyn and Josh Davey.

Vote on the top right-hand side of the page or under the 'Vote' tab on mobile devices.

The vote will close at 09:00 GMT with results published here shortly after. Read the terms and conditions here.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

On New Zealand v West Indies tomorrow:

"A lot of people are getting nervous over here. I think it'll be very much like this Australia-Pakistan game - some in Australia are desperate to write them off, but I can't see New Zealand losing. I've only witness consistent swing in one game, when England played here.

"Daniel Vettori's been the stand-out spinner, Trent Boult and Tim Southee have been outstanding new-ball bowlers, and this is the best New Zealand team I've ever seen. I'm as New Zealand as they come now after two-and-a-half weeks here, I'm clipping my vowels and everything."

Some news from Saturday's quarter-final:

West Indies captain Jason Holder says a decision on Chris Gayle's fitness for Saturday's quarter-final against New Zealand will be left to the morning of the match.

Gayle missed the final pool match against the United Arab Emirates on Sunday because of a back injury, and did not train with his team-mates until Friday.

"Chris is out playing this morning,'' Holder said Friday. "He's had an injection, nothing major. We'll see how he pulls up today and make a decision tomorrow.''

Gayle, whose 215 against Zimbabwe is the highest score at the tournament, brings the experience of 268 one-day internationals to the West Indies side.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"There have only been two lower targets successfully defended in World Cup knockout games: 184 by India v West Indies at Lord's in the 1983 final and 208 by Australia v West Indies at Mohali in the 1996 semi-final."

prayags: There goes my hope of mother of all semi-finals: India v Pakistan! Why do Aussies need to compliment their excellent cricketing skills with sledging?

Shak: Pakistan bowling to win it. #MustBelieve

So, Australia will be heavy favourites at the halfway stage after restricting Pakistan to what looks like a very chaseable total.

All 10 wickets went down caught and that tells the story of the Pakistan innings - too many big, cavalier shots. The key wicket was the loss of Misbah - he and Haris Sohail had rebuilt well after the openers went early, but Misbah was the only batsman who looked like he had the discipline to post a big score. After he went, it was a procession towards the inevitable 'all out'.

Australia bowled superbly, with Josh Hazlewood - a surprise selection for this game - fully justifying his place with four wickets. Good fielding and some astute rotating of the bowlers from Michael Clarke also heaped pressure on a brittle Pakistan order.

Can Pakistan defend this? Well, their bowlers have impressed throughout this tournament, skittling South Africa for 202, but this a deep Australian line-up. It will take a phenomenal effort from Pakistan to win this game.

Australia pace bowler Josh Hazlewood: "Very happy with that - the boys played well throughout the 50 overs. The wicket's pretty good, it swung around early on. We've got depth in our squad so whenever you get a chance, you've got to impress."

Image source, Getty Images

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"They nearly got to their 50 overs, but Pakistan were limping along in the last 10 because they lost so many wickets. All 10 batsmen caught - the out-cricket's been good, they've missed very little. The only time I can remember in that innings when Michael Clarke could have been any way concerned was just before Misbah got out at 97-2.

"Pakistan were seduced by the short boundaries - not one of them could anchor the innings and get 80 or 90 to anchor the innings. Australia will be pleased with their selection, having chosen Hazlewood. Expect Pakistan to come out all guns blazing for early wickets."