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England, Australia set for tense World Cup opener

11th February, 2015
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Stuart Broad senses Australia won’t make the World Cup final and Eoin Morgan has doubted Mitchell Johnson’s ability to swing the ball.

Aaron Finch couldn’t care less.

Speaking after Johnson returned to rattle England in last week’s tri-series final, England captain Morgan remarked his side’s woes had nothing to do with the fiery left-armer.

“It could have been anyone bowling,” Morgan said of Johnson, who claimed 3-27 to lift Australia to a 112-run win in Perth.

“I don’t think he swung it.”

Broad later predicted Australia would miss the World Cup decider, with the two sides preparing to renew hostilities in their tournament-opener at the MCG on Saturday.

Finch, who scored 61 in his side’s 188-run shellacking of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, was happy to shoulder arms when given the opportunity to fire back.

“I haven’t read a paper for quite a while, I don’t know what the comments are,” Finch said.

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“Whatever they think of Mitch – good luck.

“We’re there to play as well as we can, but we’re very confident going in.”

Johnson also declined to engage in a war of words, declaring earlier this week he had little interest in “mind games”.

The warm-up win over the UAE was a world away from some of the tough contests Australia will face over the next six weeks.

But Finch took heart from the way his side fielded, with Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell claiming outstanding catches to help skittle the UAE for 116.

“We saw it as a really good opportunity to tick a few boxes and make sure everything’s in order come Saturday,” Finch said.

“One thing that can drift along in a warm-up game is fielding, that can peter out to nothing at times.

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“The way we ran around in the field, and our energy, was outstanding.”

Mitchell Starc and David Warner were rested from the fixture, with both men certain to play against England.

“When you’ve got four outstanding quicks, someone is going to have to be unlucky,” Finch said.

“Unfortunately 15 doesn’t fit into 11, so there is going to be four blokes sitting out that are very stiff.”

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