Storming England’s ’fortress’

ENGLAND are trumpeting Edgbaston as their impenetrable fortress with Australia drawn to play the World Cup hosts at a venue they haven’t lost at in any format since 2014.

England’s 10-match winning streak in Birmingham is swelled by the fact that five of their top six batsmen for tomorrow’s semi-final clash have celebrated whirlwind ODI centuries at the ground.

They are in-form openers Jonny Bairstow (111 off 109) and Jason Roy (112 not out off 95), No.3 Joe Root (104 off 78), No.4 Jos Buttler (129 off 77) and No.6 Ben Stokes (102 not out off 109).

Conversely, 54-year-old Mark Waugh is the only Australian to have posted an ODI ton at Edgbaston (in 1993), with no current player reaching 80 at the tiny ground.

Root, who Australia identified as England’s key wicket before Mitchell Starc knocked him over for eight runs last month, averages a remarkable 66 at Edgbaston.

England captain Eoin Morgan said his team clearly played their best cricket at three grounds – Edgbaston, Trent Bridge and The Oval.

“It’s a place we really like playing, so it’s comforting we are going to one of those grounds,” Morgan said.

Australia’s attack looked vulnerable in their final-round match against South Africa on Saturday with Starc’s first spell (0-26 off three overs) resulting in spinner Nathan Lyon bowling the sixth over.

Pat Cummins has 2-186 (33 overs) from his past four games while Glenn Maxwell has 0-295 for the tournament.

Indian captain Virat Kohli vented his Edgbaston frustration after England extended their winning streak to double digits against his team.

“The toss was vital, especially looking at the boundary that was quite short,” he said.