England win has Aussies fired up
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.
The tournament hosts have guaranteed safe passage to the knockout stage of the event with ultra- impressive wins over Bangladesh then New Zealand.
Australia meanwhile has barely got out of first gear with two washouts.
It’s been frustrating enough for Lehmann, who is 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 just four more overs on Monday to get a win.
Lehmann said the committee he sits on with former Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting was “proactive” and were all about “playing as much cricket as you can”, hinting at change.
He said the match would have gone on if it was a Big Bash game.
But weather- related topics are beyond Lehmann’s control.
He’s 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- or- die pool game.
It’s just a game against England.
“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.
England, which has never won a major one- day trophy, but has lost three World Cup finals, will go into Saturday’s game 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.
“We never take any position that we’ve ever been in for granted,” he said.
“I think if we’re truly going to be contenders for this tour- nament, we need to beat the best teams. And Australia are one of the best teams.
“They always are going into a white ball tournament. They seem to produce limited overs cricketers at will.”
The forecast for Saturday in Birmingham is changing by the day, with rain expected.
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 Friday’s game be a washout and the Aussies lose to England.
Changes to the Aussie team for Saturday are unlikely, although slugger Chris Lynn remains a “real chance” to get his first run, with conditions to dictate the line- up.