Boof loves the challenge
THE scenario was simplified by an English win on Tuesday but Australian coach Darren Lehmann was never worried about that.
Australia always want to beat England, anytime, anywhere, and that Lehmann’s men must now do so to stay alive in the Champions Trophy is just a motivational bonus.
England, the tournament hosts, have guaranteed safe passage to the knockout stage of the event with impressive wins over Bangladesh, New Zealand.
Australia, meanwhile, have barely got out of first gear with two washouts leaving the batsmen – particularly – with next to no time in the middle, facing just 25 of a possible 100 overs. then
It’s been frustrating enough for Lehmann, on the ICC Cricket Committee, to suggest a loosening of rules around rain and the inability to play through drizzle when a result is within reach.
Australia needed to complete four more overs on Monday to get a win and were well ahead of the Duckworth Lewis par score.
Lehmann is continuing to build his team to a crescendo for Saturday’s clash at Edgbaston, not to send a pre-Ashes warning, not even as a do-ordie pool game.
“For us it is a great game, Australia v England. They are obviously very confident and our players will be up for the battle,” Lehmann said.
“It will be an exciting game; hopefully the weather’s fine and we get a result.”
England, who have never won a major one-day trophy and have lost three World Cup finals, will go in as favourites.
Skipper Eoin Morgan was circumspect after the win over New Zealand, refusing to put his team ahead of the Aussies, knowing they are best when their backs are to the wall.
“I think if we’re truly going to be contenders … we need to beat the best teams,” he said. “And Australia are one of the best teams.”
Australia could yet get through to the finals in the event of another washout but it would be highly dependent on the result on the match between New Zealand and Bangladesh tomorrow.
Net run rates will come in to play if two teams finish on three points, or three on two points should tomorrow’s game be a washout and the Aussies lose to England.