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Jaipur, Oct 20: Australia will be hoping their chances of winning their maiden Champions Trophy do not go up in ashes when they take on England in the one-dayer at the Sawai Man Singh stadium here tomorrow. Dubbed as the prelude to the Ashes series, both the sides go into the Group 'A' day-night clash in a must-win situation following their defeat to India and the West Indies respectively and losing here would throw one of them out of reckoning. Ricky Ponting's men will be keen to break the curse of the biennial event as this is the only crown that misses in the three-time World Cup winners' cupboard.
Not that England have won it many number of times. They are simply not expected to win, including by their own fans. For the Old Blighty, protecting the famous urn, which they won for the first time after 18 year in 2005, is the primary goal of the season which also consists the World Cup. The England players have denied that tomorrow's encounter is the appetiser before the main course, but the team that is not known for its one-day record can be expected to be a little more pumped up against their old foes.
England will have to solve a few problems of their own before they ask any question to the Aussies, though. The most important of them would be their batting which showed little signs of having adjusted to the Indian conditions, as they collapsed against India on Sunday, despite having toured here as recently as in March-April. Unlike their rivals from Down Under, who made it a point to conquer the Final Frontier, the English have been reluctant travellers to the subcontinent.
The presence among them of a South African, Kevin Pietersen, and being coached by a Zimbabwean, Duncan Fletcher, should help change the attitude though. The immediate source of concern is the opening combination due to the absence of Marcus Trescothick. Captain Andrew Flintoff promoted himself to number three but that failed to produce results against India as he was out for no score and the team was bundled out for 125. Ian Bell, who usually bats at that position, has averaged 44.00 in the last 10 matches but he was gone after facing only seven balls for four. It remains to be seen if Fletcher and Flintoff decide to give him back his regular spot against Australia.
One advantage England will have over their adversaries is the fact that they have been in the city for 10 days now and so have adjusted to the conditions. And having played a match, they would also have a better knowledge of the pitch behaviour. Australia, on the other hand, might have no real concern with regard to their team make-up. The loss to the West Indies has more to do with the underdog playing beyond itself than the world champions playing below their potential. Of course, Ponting would like to come up with a big score, and so would Glenn McGrath like to be among wickets.
The key factor would be judging and adjusting to the wicket. The match is to be played on the third strip which has not been used so far. But for a team that plays total cricket and is visiting the country for the fourth time in six years, that should not be a major problem.
Teams (from): Australia:
Ricky Ponting (C), Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Bradd Hogg, Brett Lee, Mitchel Johnson, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Bracken and Dan Cullen.
England: Andrew Flintoff
(Captain), Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Chris Read, Jamie Dalrymple, Michael Yardy, James Anderson, Rikki Clarke, Sajid Mahmood, Jon Lewis, Ed Joyce and Steve Harmison. Umpires: Steve Bucknor and Billy Bowden.
Third umpire: Daryl Harper.
Fourth umpire: Simon Taufel. Match referee: Jeff Crowe. (Agencies)
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