It is a must-win clash for Australia as they face their fiercest rivals, England, in the ICC Champions Trophy group match at Edgbaston on Saturday night. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:30pm (AEST).
It is do or die for the Australians on Saturday night, and after two washed-out draws against Bangladesh and New Zealand, they sit without a win. In their final group match, the Aussies have no choice but to snatch a win from an undefeated English outfit if they are to make the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals.
The recent form of Australia is inconsistent at best. Their bowling performance against New Zealand was described by captain Steve Smith as one of the worst in a long time, and their batting was shaky, losing three wickets inside 15 overs.
However, they bounced back against Bangladesh, routing the Tigers for 182 via a Mitch Starc assault, before racing to 1/83 before rain interrupted play.
Meanwhile, England’s touch has been anything but inconsistent. They have recorded big wins against New Zealand and Bangladesh, with the rain being kind to the home side.
Joe Root has been outstanding so far, as well as strong bowling performances from Jake Ball, Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood. In a worrying sign for the Australians, England hasn’t had to rely on a single player’s form in order to win.
Adding to the Aussies’ woes, the weather that has plagued the tournament thus far doesn’t seem to be letting up, with heavy rain forecast for Birmingham on the Saturday.
Seemingly, the only thing that is fully in Australia’s favour is their history. They hold a winning percentage of 60 per cent over the Old Enemy in ODI cricket, with 80 wins coming from 136 games.
Joe Root
The England captain has been in sublime touch lately, with a match-winning hundred against the Tigers followed up by a well-struck 64 against the BlackCaps. While England has already made the finals, Root would love nothing more than to knock his Ashes rivals out of the tournament.
Mitchell Starc
While it is hard to pick between Steve Smith and Mitch Starc, I’ve gone for the fiery paceman due to his ability to change the course of a match. When Starc is swinging the ball at 150 km/h, you can expect the Australians to be on top. If Starc fires, Australia fires, simple as that.
While this tournament has thrown up some curveballs as of recent, I’m going for England to get the win, batting first and racking up a huge total. Their lineup is just too strong, and while Australia are still trying to work out the XI, England seem to have theirs sorted. If rain doesn’t intervene, I would expect England to get up, albeit in a tight game.
England to win by 25 runs
Can Australia defy the odds and force their way into the semi-finals? Or will England remain undefeated, and send the Australians crashing out of the tournament?
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting at 7:30pm (AEST).
Rellum
Roar Guru
I just said it was crucial, I didn't blame him for the whole effort.
James
Guest
This is my favourite message from you. Not because your commentary has been shite, its been fantastic, but just the sheer desperation for sleep speaks to me.
James
Guest
Im sure some will complain and say that the Australia batsmen were out of knick from not having faced a ball but its not like Englands batsmen had a massive run in, they had one game against NZ where everyone got a bat, if one game is the difference between being in form and not then thats just sad.
James
Guest
Was crucuial in a way but also not in that England completely dominated after the break and the much vaunted Australia bowling were completely ineffective. We should blame Wade for the drop but we should also blame him for his batting, and everyone else in the team for their batting aside from Head, and blame the bowlers for not doing their job. No one, aside from Head, did their job. Wade is still a prat but blaming just him is unfair when looking at the performances of everyone else, aside from Head.
Mcthug
Guest
Australia played softly, screwing around instead of attacking and going for broke in the first 15 overs. They should have been 100+ at that stage, but they try to poke balls around the corners instead of playing down the ground and they don't move their feet to the pitch of the ball. They need to dance down to Wood and get him on the half volley (ala Dean Jones) just a weak tentative display. And don't even get me started on why Lynn wasn't in the team? Wade is useless, can't bat, can't catch.... Has anyone thought of opening say Lynn and Starc and give them the freedom to go for broke in the first 15 and really put pressure on opening bowlers. Pathetic insipid display. Head was good (thats all) The big show was a no show
Cantab
Guest
100%
Rellum
Roar Guru
So the Wade drop was crucial in the end.
Rellum
Roar Guru
They are not demanding more money.
Partyhat
Guest
I thinks it's tough to go out without completing a game but can't see a way round it. I suppose you would prob have lost against NZ, beaten Bang and lost against us (Eng) so if all those had been completed would the same final placings have occurred?
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Match Report: Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy is over without recording a win after England sent their Old Enemy crashing out of the tournament with a 40 run (DLS) win at Edgbaston. Needing a win to qualify after two rained out games against New Zealand and Bangladesh, Australia only managed 277 in their allotted 50 overs after a spell of bowling from Adil Rashid (4/41) and Mark Wood (4/33), in which the visitors lost 5/15 in a horrific period. Travis Head (71 not out) managed to rescue the Australians after Aaron Finch (68) and Steve Smith (56) started well, but failed to capitalise on a dry and hard Birmingham wicket. It wasn’t enough though, despite a strong start from Josh Hazlewood (2/50) and Mitchell Starc (1/57), who had England reeling at 3/35 before rain interrupted. After the break, it was all England as Eoin Morgan (87) and Ben Stokes (102 not out) put on a huge 159 run partnership to seal the match for the home side, the latter hitting a brutal century for his adopted country. Rain interrupted in the final 10 overs of the match, which was eventually abandoned as England ran out victors by 40 runs (DLS) The less said about Australia’s bowling, the better, with poor tactics and plenty of loose balls being dispatched by England, who were just a class above the rest of the Australian players. Adam Zampa was one of the better bowlers for Australia, while Josh Hazlewood looked threatening early, and Pat Cummins was lively, albeit expensive. England’s victory means that Bangladesh are now through to the Champion’s Trophy semi-finals, and England and the Tigers will play South Africa, Pakistan Sri Lanka or India, depending on who wins their matches in Group B. Australia, however, will return home after a long tour of India, the IPL and now the Champions Trophy, before a possible Test tour of Bangladesh in August, and then, the Ashes. But until then, Ben Stokes and England have drawn first blood.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Match Abandoned: England defeat Australia by 40 runs DLS Game has been called off, and England win decisively by 40 runs via DLS. All set up by Mark Wood and Adil Rashid with fantastic spells, while Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan rescuing England from a spot of bother in 3/35. For Australia, nobody really went on with the bat, despite a rescue job from Travis Head, and half centuries to Smith and Finch, and their bowling, well, the less said, the better. England go on to the semis, where they will see who they face from Group B, while Australia will now head home after a long tour of India and an IPL tournament. Thanks for joining me, it was a blast! Match report will be up shortly!
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Nice that in some areas its good in England! I have a few mates over there now, hopefully they're enjoying the sun! Yeah, it's a good day for sport in England apparently, they're through to the semis and leading the Scottish in the football. No worries, it was good fun! I enjoy blogging and all, so a good experience!
Lionheart
Guest
I'm in England at present, but some distance from Birmingham. It's a lovely day here, sunny and about 19 degrees, but windy. The past two weeks of summer have been pretty varied, wet, windy, sunny, warm - and that's just the mornings. Bad luck for us with our preceding games but watching this on TV here, just not good enough today. They're also playing a WCQ at present, with Scotland which they now lead 1-0, so it's a big day for England. Thanks for the blog Dylan.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Umpires are coming out to have a look, but it is still pouring down. Probably fitting that rain finally puts an end to Australia's tournament, it has chased them all Champions Trophy.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Apparently it is filthy in Birmingham, chances of getting back on are looking slim. It looks to be prolonged though, and it is killing me, not only as an Australian cricket fan, but as a lover of sleep, because it's twenty past 3 in the bloody morning in Melbourne.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Looks like a big bank of rain coming in, this may be the end of the game, it isn't looking good.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
Oh no, they're coming off for rain now. England are hugely ahead on Duckworth Lewis. The par score is 204. England are 240, so no need to worry about that. It just remains to be seen how England will win, either by Duckworth Lewis, or off their own bat. Ben Stokes has been great, and hit his first Champions Trophy ton. We have 35 minutes until we start losing overs here. Hopefully they can get on before then.
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
England 4/240 (40.2) No run there
Dylan Carmody
Roar Guru
England 4/240 (40.1) Into the last 10 overs now FOUR Stokes gets his ton! Smacks a cut shot for four and brings up his ton against the Old Enemy. The first blood has been drawn in the Ashes, and Stokes has played a sublime knock.
Justin
Guest
When you are demanding more money and then you turn in these type of performances across the tournament.......