This encounter will be the fourteenth time this year that England and Australia will be facing each other. Whilst this may not be seen as the most important of games, the two will know that the winners will be in a major championship final. Whilst this is a common theme for Australia, if England win, it will be their first final since the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy was held on home soil.
Last Australia/England ICC Meeting
The last time these two met in the Champions Trophy was in 2004 where England broke the habit of a lifetime and beat Australia in the semis, a good omen. England won by six wickets at Edgbaston, Birmingham with Marcus Trescothick (81) and Michael Vaughan (86) leading them to an easy victory. Although the home side went on to lose the final to the West Indies, the win gave them enough confidence to take the Aussies on in the following year's epic Ashes series.
Team News
Australia have called up David Hussey, the brother of "Mr Cricket" Mike, as cover for the injured Michael Clarke. The loss of the Australian vice-captain is a big blow, as he is arguably their most consistent batsman, as well as bringing experience, lighting fielding and useful slow left arm bowling to the game. England are not without their problems; hero of 2009 Stuart Broad has an injured buttock, of all things, whilst Matt Prior is still troubled by a virus. If Prior misses out again, Eoin Morgan is likely to deputise as wicket-keeper once again, although Worcester's Stephen Davies has been flown in as another option.
England Form-South Africa and Sri Lanka beaten
Following their 6-1 drubbing by the Australians, England created a suprise when they beat tournament favourites Sri Lanka comfortably, thanks to brilliant opening spells by James Anderson and Graham Onions. South Africa were then despatched, thanks to the inconsistent but occasionally brilliant Owais Shah, who slammed an ebullient 98 including six sixes, whilst Paul Collingwood with 82 and Eoin Morgan slammed 67 off 34 balls as England posted 323-8.
Despite a brilliant 141 by Proteas captain Graeme Smith, he was controversially denied a runner by England captain Andrew Strauss when suffering from cramp, and regular wickets meant that South Africa finished 301-9, and went out. Although the Lions lost to New Zealand on a shocker of a wicket, they still qualified for the semis.
Australia Wins
Australia started off their campaign with a resounding win over a West Indian side ravaged by striking key players. They looked strong at 234-4 against a disappointing India, but the match was abandoned because of rain. They then batted very much like England did in the one-day series, shakily and with a few nerves, winning only by two wickets chasing down 206 against an enigmatic Pakistan. Mike Hussey's 64 was nearly in vain but Brett Lee helped his side across the line despite a brilliant tigerish bowling spell by Saeed Ajmal, who took 2-31 from his accurate 10 overs.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Both teams look as though they have brittle middle-orders, and if they lose early wickets, both sides could be bowled out under 200. Shane Watson and Tim Paine are makeshift openers at best for the Aussies, whilst England's Andrew Strauss tries to hold the batting together with his young opener Joe Denly. Collingwood has improved with some unlikely six hitting, but Shah, Morgan and Ravi Bopara remain inconsistent, the jury is still out on those three.
Australia have the rock solid Mike Hussey, captain Ricky Ponting and the impressive youngster Callum Ferguson that score runs and build partnerships almost at will. Further down the order, newly crowned ICC Cricketer of the Year Mitchell Johnson devastates with his brutal long hitting to go with his aggressive if wayward bowling. Brett Lee and his toe crunching yorkers proves what a nonsense his omission in the Ashes series was.
However Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Graham Onions, combined with the guile of off-spinner Graeme Swann, are also a force to be reckoned with. If it swings early, and the pitch is again uneven, England will be hoping they win a crucial toss.
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