In eight months, we meet the old enemy 26 times

ENGLAND and Australia will meet 26 times across all formats between tonight and February 2.

ENGLAND and Australia will meet 26 times across all formats between tonight and February 2. Fittingly, that represents one game for every mile in a marathon, but it is a sprint of an innings that has roused England before the first of them, the Champions Trophy match at Edgbaston.

Batsman Jos Buttler hit an unbeaten 47 from 16 balls to lead England to victory in a ODI series game over New Zealand on Wednesday, while a shell-shocked Australia pondered how to reconstruct a batting order skittled for 65 by India and Michael Clarke continued to receive treatment for his back.

"He's a talisman for them," England limited-overs coach Ashley Giles said of Clarke.

"If he is missing, it is annoying for him and Australia, but it would be good for us. I did not quite chuckle when I saw they were bowled out for 65, but I was pleased they did not get a confidence boost. We do not want them playing well."

Giles sounded relieved as well as excited by the Buttler-inspired defeat of New Zealand at Trent Bridge. "It was still not anywhere near a perfect performance, but maybe we are not looking for that right now," he said.

With Stuart Broad and Steven Finn bowling sharply, the issue for England concerns balance as much as personnel. Ravi Bopara looked scratchy at the crease on his return, but bowled economically and Giles thinks that greater batting depth lifted pressure from Buttler. The 22-year-old made a late entrance in the 46th over, but Giles believes that he can make an impact over a longer innings.

"Jos only needed to bat like that once in 50-over cricket to be able to go on," Giles said. "He will not come off every time, but in T20, once he jumped that hurdle he looked a different player.

"Buttler and Eoin Morgan are really dangerous players. They will win games for us and it is important that they are playing with some of the passion and freedom they showed at Trent Bridge."

The Times