Jos sticks to the script he knows

OTHERS may describe it as a shot to nothing or a dead rubber with a semi-final place already booked, top spot guaranteed and nothing more at stake than the unquantifiable commodity of momentum.

But Jos Buttler believes England must approach their final group game against Australia gimlet-eyed and hell-bent on knocking them out of the Champions Trophy at Edgbaston on Saturday.

England’s wicketkeeperbatsman played a key role in the victory over New Zealand at a blustery Cardiff on Tuesday which ensured England will be back in the Principality for the first of the two semi-finals in six days’ time.

Yet the prospect of meeting Australia in the final should they give them a lifeline this Saturday has already sharpened minds in the England dressing room. “Any game between England and Australia is a huge game and has that edge but it would be nice [to send them home],” said Buttler.

“We want to win, to keep our momentum going no matter who we are playing but it is nice to know that would be the outcome if we did win.”

Assuming the remainder of Group A suffers no more washouts, if New Zealand beat Bangladesh tomorrow Australia need a win over England to progress to the last four.

Steve Smith’s men will take some comfort in their improved performance against Bangladesh, when they were close to victory before the weather rolled in, after a disappointing display against New Zealand in their opener. Both their matches were washed out.

The Australia captain will also be confident his barrage of fast bowlers are cranking up into form after a rusty start against the Kiwis at Edgbaston.

England are almost certainly happier taking on pace, and at a venue where their past two outings have brought wins by 210 runs against New Zealand in 2015 and by 10 wickets against Sri Lanka a year later.

“Both sides, with bat and ball, are very aggressive attacking teams,” said Buttler. “They are a very good side, to be respected but we always focus on ourselves – what we can do well – and will not change our style of cricket. We will keep trying to take them on.

“It can be a good wicket at Edgbaston and we’ve got some good memories playing there.”

Jason Roy would no doubt agree there is no such thing as a dead rubber and looks to have one more chance to impress after a slight wobble in Eoin Morgan’s resolute support for his opening batsman after the match in Cardiff. Jonny Bairstow will be ready to go in the semi-final if Roy misses out on a score again.

Buttler believes the best approach is to blank from their minds the safety net below the tight rope. “We go into every game looking to win,” he said.

“We now know we have qualified but we want to be going into a semi-final on the back of a win, and we will be desperate to do that.”