ICC Champions Trophy 2017: England vs Australia team news and playing XI

It's win or go home time for Australia as they play the already-qualified-for-the-semifinals England in a mouthwatering ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Group A match on Saturday.

Having failed to complete both their matches in the Champions Trophy so far, Australia find themselves on two points from two games, and needing a win to qualify for the semifinals along with England.

Bangladesh are the team that will watch this match closely, after their outstanding win over New Zealand on Friday, with Australia needing to get everything right on Saturday to beat England, chief of them being their playing XI.

Due to the fact that both matches have been abandoned without getting anywhere close to the 100 overs in, it is difficult to gauge where Australia are with their playing XI at the moment.

Apart from a late surge, Australia struggled considerably against New Zealand with the ball, before they were rescued by the rain having lost three quick wickets in the chase.

In the second match against Bangladesh, Australia were on course for a victory, after the bowlers came to the fore, before rain again ended the match with just 16 overs of the second innings played.

So, while the bowling was sorted out with that Bangladesh match, there are still question marks over the batting. The lineup struggled against New Zealand, while the second match was too short and the target too small to make a judgement.

There have been calls to bring Chris Lynn into the lineup for a while now, but that looks unlikely, because Steve Smith, the captain, seems to prefer having an all-rounder in the side to help with the bowling.

That's understandable too, and while Moises Henriques can go for plenty on a bad day, he does give that bowling option while also being solid – not as explosive as Lynn, but quite competent – with the bat.

Marcus Stoinis is also another option, but chances are Australia will stick to the same playing XI that nearly beat Bangladesh, which would also mean Adam Zampa staying in the side for John Hastings.

England have no worries going into this game, having become the first and only team so far to qualify for the semifinals, after they picked up two wins in two Group A games.

They might consider resting an aching limb or two, considering qualification is already sealed, but since Australia are the opponents and they will want to make sure they top the Group A table, England look likely to go with the same team.

Jason Roy is under pressure to get runs at the top of the order, with Jonny Bairstow breathing down his neck, so this will be an important game for the opener.

Expected playing XI:

England: Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Jake Ball, Mark Wood.

 

Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steve Smith (C), Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.