Australia aim to smoothen their journey to the semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with a win against England in Ahmedabad on Saturday. However, England also look forward to giving their best as they have their Champions Trophy 2025 place at stake in the tournament.
Australia started their campaign on a disastrous note after they lost to Rohit Sharma-led India in Chennai and then were outplayed by South Africa in Lucknow. But from then, they did not look back and roared to form playing like multiple-time World Champions having a plethora of match winners.
When the side was in trouble, somebody stood up and took responsibility - be it their aggressive opener David Warner or spinner Adam Zampa, who is an important cog in their wheel. However, the challenge for the Australian team management will not be easy as they will need to pick a perfect playing eleven in the absence of key all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who has flown back home due to personal reasons and has been indefinitely ruled out of the marquee tournament.
Question marks also remain over the availability of star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and if he is unable then the Pat Cummins-led side will have to find a suitable replacement. Australia will bank on openers David Warner and Travis Head to come good and provide the side a rollicking start be it while putting up a score or chasing. It is perhaps Warmer's last ODI World Cup and he would be keen to end on a high.
Their middle order also looks set with Marnus Labuschange and Steve Smith. But who would replace Mitchell Marsh, who was in scintillating form, is the million dollar question. Cameron Green is one of the candidates who can step in his shoes and so Australia can opt for such a move.
The bowling for Australia also looks sorted and pacer Mitchell Starc showed why is he still the best in the business after he held his nerves to stop New Zealand and eke out a win. Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have the ability to pose serious questions and they are up against the England lineup, which is not among the runs. Having languished at the bottom of the points table, defending champions England are already out of the World Cup and will play to salvage pride.
Meanwhile, England’s Joe Root has attempted to rally England with fighting words, calling his team a better outfit "man for man" despite being last in the standings.
Root said England, however, should be top of the table with the quality in their squad, and the players were "all very frustrated that wasn't the case."
"Man for man, I'd have this team every day over the Australians," Root told British media.
"We might not have played as well as we can do but we know when we play our best stuff, the best teams struggle to compete with us.
"We've just got to look at Saturday as our World Cup final and play in the manner that's expected of us and we expect of ourselves."