Event Details
The much-anticipated match is set to take place on Saturday, 4th November at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Match Overview
England’s journey in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has been fraught with challenges as they strive to retain the title they clinched in 2019. Their performance has been far from satisfactory, with five losses in six matches, putting their chances of reaching the semi-finals in jeopardy.
Despite their current form, England must win their remaining three matches convincingly to improve their net run rate and keep their slim hopes of progressing alive. However, they can draw some comfort from the fact that past performances often count for little in these high-stakes encounters.
On the other hand, Australia has been on a winning streak, securing four consecutive victories to claim the third spot in the standings. However, they will be facing their traditional rivals without the services of Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh, both key players in their squad.
Maxwell’s absence due to a concussion sustained in a golf cart incident and Marsh’s return home for personal reasons will necessitate a reshuffle in the Australian team. This could open the door for all-rounders Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis to make a comeback.
England, too, has its share of worries, with fitness and form being major concerns. The team is still grappling with the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for pacer Reece Topley, who was ruled out of the tournament despite being one of their standout performers.
Team Line-ups
England Squad:
Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, David Willey, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes.
Australia Squad:
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
Players to Watch
England – Adil Rashid
Adil Rashid has emerged as a beacon of hope for the struggling English side. The leg-spinner has claimed eight wickets, the highest for his team in this tournament, while maintaining a commendable economy rate of 5.14 runs per over. With Australia’s batting line-up weakened by the absence of Maxwell and Marsh, Rashid could play a pivotal role in reviving England’s fortunes.
Australia – Travis Head
Travis Head’s return has bolstered Australia’s batting line-up. Despite recovering from an injury, the 29-year-old scored a remarkable century on his World Cup debut against New Zealand. His impressive innings, featuring seven sixes and 10 boundaries, indicates that Australia is well-equipped to match the high scores set by other contenders in this Cricket World Cup.