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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| England steeled for Aussie clash | England steeled for Aussie clash |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Captain Andrew Flintoff is under no illusions about the size of England's task against Australia on Saturday. | Captain Andrew Flintoff is under no illusions about the size of England's task against Australia on Saturday. |
| The world champions were beaten by West Indies on Wednesday but still believe they can win the Champions Trophy. | The world champions were beaten by West Indies on Wednesday but still believe they can win the Champions Trophy. |
| Flintoff is hoping the memory of England's semi-final win over Australia in 2004 will provide some inspiration. | Flintoff is hoping the memory of England's semi-final win over Australia in 2004 will provide some inspiration. |
| "We almost played the perfect game to beat Australia that day. On Saturday, we will have to play exceptional cricket again," he said. | "We almost played the perfect game to beat Australia that day. On Saturday, we will have to play exceptional cricket again," he said. |
| Interview: Andrew Flintoff | Interview: Andrew Flintoff |
| Flintoff confirmed he would again bat at three despite being dismissed for a duck as the team lost their opening game against India. | Flintoff confirmed he would again bat at three despite being dismissed for a duck as the team lost their opening game against India. |
| And he can expect the Australian team to throw everything at him in a bid to send him on his way cheaply for a second time in the tournament. | And he can expect the Australian team to throw everything at him in a bid to send him on his way cheaply for a second time in the tournament. |
| "England's thinking will be - the longer he can bat, the better it will be for them," said Australia skipper Ricky Ponting. | |
| "Our feeling is that if we can get a crack at him early with the new ball and get him out then it might leave them a bit thin with their power hitters down the end of their innings, which is where he can do a lot of damage. | |
| "He has been a middle to lower order batsman for most of his career. I guess he hasn't faced a lot of the new white ball and as we have seen it has swung around quite a bit here." | "He has been a middle to lower order batsman for most of his career. I guess he hasn't faced a lot of the new white ball and as we have seen it has swung around quite a bit here." |
| Both skippers have tried to downplay any link between the game and the forthcoming Ashes series. | Both skippers have tried to downplay any link between the game and the forthcoming Ashes series. |
| Ponting says his batsmen need to step up in Jaipur | Ponting says his batsmen need to step up in Jaipur |
| "There will be a lot made of this having something to do with the Ashes or being able to take something away from it for the Ashes," said Ponting. | "There will be a lot made of this having something to do with the Ashes or being able to take something away from it for the Ashes," said Ponting. |
| "I am not a big believer in that because there will be such a big changeover of players." | "I am not a big believer in that because there will be such a big changeover of players." |
| Which ever team loses on Saturday is likely to miss out on the semi-finals. | Which ever team loses on Saturday is likely to miss out on the semi-finals. |
| Ponting added: "It tends to bring the best out in us. We play our best cricket when we are under the pump. | Ponting added: "It tends to bring the best out in us. We play our best cricket when we are under the pump. |
| "Hopefully our decision-making will be better than it was the other night. That's where we let ourselves down. | "Hopefully our decision-making will be better than it was the other night. That's where we let ourselves down. |
| "We haven't played in great batting conditions but the bowlers have been very good and it's time the batters started putting totals on the board." | "We haven't played in great batting conditions but the bowlers have been very good and it's time the batters started putting totals on the board." |
| Neither side is likely to make many changes, with Australia likely to give Shane Watson another chance as a pinch-hitter at the top of the order. | Neither side is likely to make many changes, with Australia likely to give Shane Watson another chance as a pinch-hitter at the top of the order. |
| Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson is eager to show what he can do, but he may have to wait until England to reach Australian shores before he is let off the leash by the selectors. | Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson is eager to show what he can do, but he may have to wait until England to reach Australian shores before he is let off the leash by the selectors. |
| England's only real dilemma is whether to opt for the steadiness of Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis, who proved a match-winner in last year's Twenty20 game between the two sides at the Rose Bowl. | England's only real dilemma is whether to opt for the steadiness of Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis, who proved a match-winner in last year's Twenty20 game between the two sides at the Rose Bowl. |
| Steve Harmison, James Anderson and Sajid Mahmood all did well enough against India, however, to warrant another opportunity and Harmison and Anderson, in particular, need more overs before the Ashes series following lengthy injury lay-offs. | Steve Harmison, James Anderson and Sajid Mahmood all did well enough against India, however, to warrant another opportunity and Harmison and Anderson, in particular, need more overs before the Ashes series following lengthy injury lay-offs. |
| England (from): A Flintoff (captain), AJ Strauss, IR Bell, KP Pietersen, MH Yardy, PD Collingwood, JWM Dalrymple, CMW Read (wicketkeeper), SI Mahmood, SJ Harmison, JM Anderson, J Lewis, R Clarke, EC Joyce. | England (from): A Flintoff (captain), AJ Strauss, IR Bell, KP Pietersen, MH Yardy, PD Collingwood, JWM Dalrymple, CMW Read (wicketkeeper), SI Mahmood, SJ Harmison, JM Anderson, J Lewis, R Clarke, EC Joyce. |
| Australia (from): RT Ponting (captain), SR Watson, AC Gilchrist (wicketkeeper), DR Martyn, A Symonds, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, B Lee, GD McGrath, NW Bracken, DJ Cullen, GB Hogg, SM Katich. | Australia (from): RT Ponting (captain), SR Watson, AC Gilchrist (wicketkeeper), DR Martyn, A Symonds, MJ Clarke, MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, B Lee, GD McGrath, NW Bracken, DJ Cullen, GB Hogg, SM Katich. |
| Umpires: BF Bowden (New Zealand) & SA Bucknor (West Indies) | Umpires: BF Bowden (New Zealand) & SA Bucknor (West Indies) |