The State of Play
Australia lost their first two games in India but have won the last four to move to the brink of qualifying for the semi-finals. Two wins from their last three matches will likely do it, although one may be enough.
They would love that win to come against England having enjoyed the struggles of Jos Buttler’s side. The usual jousting started earlier this week with the Australian players scornfully dismissing the fact the term ‘Bazball’ had been added to the English dictionary.
England sit bottom of the standings with the defence of the crown they won in 2019 a distant memory. One win from six games is an accurate reflection of how bad England have been. Their target now is to finish in the top eight and qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy, plus the small matter of getting one over on their old rivals.
Team News
Australia will be without two players from their first choice XI – Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. Marsh has returned home for personal reasons while Maxwell suffered a concussion after falling off a golf cart earlier this week. Marcus Stoinis is likely to come in after recovering from a calf strain with Cameron Green also expected to be included. Travis Head will keep his place after a brilliant hundred against New Zealand last time out with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne likely to move up a place in the order due to Marsh’s absence.
England are likely to include David Willey despite his announcement earlier this week that he will retire from international cricket at the end of this tournament. The left-armer has been one of England’s best players since returning to the side.
England have veered from one plan to another this tournament and will be eager for it to end.
Expected Line-ups
Australia: Warner, Head, Smith, Labuschagne, Green, Stoinis, Inglis (wk), Cummins (c), Starc, Zampa, Hazlewood
England: Bairstow, Malan, Root, Stokes, Brook, Buttler (c, wk), Curran, Willey, Rashid, Wood, Atkinson
What they said
Stoinis on Marsh having to return home.
“He sent me a message last night saying I’ll be home for a little bit and then I’m coming back to win this World Cup, so that makes me smile.
“He’s flown home, he’s got a family issue going on. And like we all know, family is very important, the most important really, so he’s doing the right thing and he’s getting home and he’s seeing the people he needs to see.
“I don’t think there’s a timeline on when he’s coming back. But I’m sure he’ll do what he needs to do at home and then get back.”
England paceman Mark Wood on facing Australia again after a 2-2 draw in the Ashes this summer.
“It’s completely different conditions, different players, different timing, different form (from the Ashes) but we’ve played against them for years.
“In one-day cricket, we’ve done well against them in recent times. I don’t think they’ll be going into this game pooing their pants, but it’s up to us to change that.”
Prediction
Their World Cup campaign has been nothing short of a shambles, yet England still have plenty to play for. Champions Trophy qualification is important but possibly less so than the thought of throwing a spanner in the works of Australia’s semi-final hopes.
England to edge it.
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