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 leaving the batsmen particularly with next to no time in the middle, facing just 25 of a possible 100 overs.
Moises Henriques celebrates a wicket.Source:AFP
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, just 16 minutes play, and were well ahead of the Duckworth Lewis par score.
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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 down the track.
He said the match would have gone on if it was a Big Bash game.
But weather related topics are beyond Lehmann’s control right now.
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.
England has already qualified for the semis.Source:Getty Images
“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. When you are playing England it is easy to get up for. Our boys will be ready to go.”
England, which has never won a major one-day trophy, but has lost three World Cup finals, will go in to Saturday’s game as favourites and have been talked up as the team to beat.
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 tournament, we need to beat the best teams. And Australia are one of the best teams.
Chris Lynn is yet to face a ball.Source:AAP
“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 in the area.
Australia could yet get through to the finals in the event of another wash-out, but it would be highly dependent on the result on the match between New Zealand and Bangladesh on Friday.
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 wash out 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.
Any call would be harsh on the batsmen, with only openers Dave Warner and Aaron Finch, skipper Steve Smith and Moises Henriques given a chance in the middle so far.
THE WAY FORWARD
How Australia makes the Champions Trophy finals
1. Beats England. Moves to four points, equal with the hosts.
2. Loses to England, and hope the clash between Pool A rivals New Zealand and Bangladesh on Friday is a washout. Australia should advance on net run rate.
3. If Saturday’s game is another washout or a tie, then Australia has to hope the winner of the Kiwis and Bangladesh game doesn’t make massive inroads on net run rate.
Originally published as Rain fails to dampen Australia’s burning desire
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