T20 World Cup: All the Australia v England news

The stakes won’t get much higher when Australia takes on England tonight — with the loser effectively eliminated from the T20 World Cup.

Australia may attempt to turn the MCG cauldron into an Ashes Test by unleashing Pat Cummins on English bunny Jos Buttler.

No one has dismissed Buttler more often in Test cricket than the seven times Cummins has claimed his wicket, and Australia will seriously consider throwing him the new ball to greet the English captain in Friday night’s sudden-death World Cup blockbuster.

It’s rare for Cummins to ever have his place in an Australian line-up questioned so immense his class, and the big fast bowler may have a point to prove after former Test selector Mark Waugh called for him to be axed.

Only rarely in T20 cricket has Mitchell Starc not bowled the first over of the innings for Australia, but Finch has shown a willingness in recent weeks to back key match-ups and Cummins v Buttler stands out as an obvious duel to target — particularly if the MCG deck is humming like it was for India and Pakistan.

The duel between England's Jos Buttler and Australia’s Pat Cummins will be one of the key contests.

The plan came off when Cummins had Buttler out early in Canberra during one of the recent World Cup warm-ups, and Australian great Brad Haddin believes it could be a key factor in the do-or-die pool game where the loser will effectively be eliminated from the tournament.

“I think with those three (Starc, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood), because they’re so different, they can go on pure match-ups there and gut feel on the night,” Haddin said.

“If they think the ball is going to swing around you’ve got Starc, you’ve got Hazlewood with his height and we know in the past that the other two, Hazlewood and Cummins in particular have matched up well to Buttler.

“That there might be the match-up that can turn the game.”

Hazlewood also has Buttler out four times in Tests and Starc three.

Australia's paceman Pat Cummins will have a point to prove after a call from him to be axed.

WOOD v FINCH

All eyes will be on Australian opener Aaron Finch given his embattled innings against Sri Lanka in Perth, and the extreme pace of Mark Wood would seem an obvious match-up for England.

Wood has regularly been clocking over 150km/h and is a certified wicket-taker for England in all formats.

Finch does have reason to take confidence into the match-up as well. In Twenty20 internationals at his home ground, the MCG, Finch averages a healthy 37, while in ODI cricket in Melbourne he averages 48 with three centuries to his name.

The colour of the ball is different of course, but Wood got better the longer he went on last year’s Ashes tour and took nine wickets in the final Test.

Pressure continues to build on out of form Australian skipper Aaron Finch.

PRESSURE v PERCENTAGES

There is intrigue over captain Finch’s dedication to bowling first in Twenty20 internationals, and the toss will be a key tactical focus for this huge clash.

Finch has been contacted by at least one former Australian player questioning why he prefers to chase all the time — and the answer is percentages.

The numbers clearly state that chasing teams are at a statistical advantage more often than not, however the unique circumstances of a World Cup eliminator at the MCG could alter that thinking.

The more traditional mindset in pressure-cooker World Cup games — at least in the 50-over format — is runs on the board is hard to beat.

There has been nothing in the conditions so far this tournament to suggest there is a major advantage to chasing, so will Australia stick to its guns?

AUSTRALIA v SCOREBOARD

If Australia do get a good look at the finish line against England, there could be a game within a game they can also win.

The net run rate copped such a hammering in Australia’s crushing opening loss to New Zealand, that if Australia get a shot at executing a comprehensive victory they must be ruthless.

Every dagger they put into England will be worthwhile as Sri Lanka continues to lurk in semi-final contention.

AUSTRALIA’S DEATH BOWLING v ENGLAND’S LOWER ORDER HITTING

After Cummins was pumped for 20 runs off the last over against Sri Lanka, there is a big watch on Australia’s death bowling against arguably the best lower-hitting team in world cricket.

England bat all the way down to Chris Woakes at No.9 and have an ability to keep going hard through an entire T20 innings because of their depth.

As well as leaking a shocking 23 extras against Sri Lanka, Australia needs its star quicks to aim up in the final overs to keep a lock on England’s chances.

Another Aussie T20 star struck down with Covid

Matthew Wade, the only Australian World Cup player without a back-up, has Covid but is expected to play in Friday’s blockbuster against England.

Australia’s gamble not to replace back-up keeper Josh Inglis with another gloveman is being put to the test, with Wade the second Australian, after spinner Adam Zampa, to be diagnosed with Covid this week.

However, it’s understood Wade’s symptoms are mild and he is set to still take the gloves against England.

ICC World Cup rules allow Covid positive cricketers to play, and Wade will simply need to abide by certain protocols and likely sit away from teammates when he’s waiting to bat.

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has been diagnosed with Covid. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

It is allowable to replace a Covid positive player and then bring them back in when symptoms are cleared, but it doesn’t appear as though Australia needs to entertain that option.

World Cup rules state that for injury, replacement players can’t be brought in on the day of a game, although it’s unclear whether the guidelines are more flexible when it comes to Covid.

It’s likely David Warner or Aaron Finch would take the gloves for Australia in an emergency situation.

Zampa was ruled out of Tuesday’s game against Sri Lanka, but is expected to return against England.

Australia’s women’s team played Tahlia McGrath in the Commonwealth Games final earlier this year despite her testing positive to Covid, and Ireland has played with a Covid player during this year’s men’s World Cup.