ENGLAND and Australia face off in the T20 World Cup this morning with both sides knowing that defeat would likely spell the end of the loser's campaign.
England are back in action after their humiliating defeat against Ireland last time out, while Australia are looking to build upon their victory over Sri Lanka.
- Start time: 9am UK time
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event and cricket
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- Tom Chambers
Muddy MCG
Even though the covers are firmly on the square, the outfield will still need time to dry even if the rain clears up.
Sections of the MCG pitch have been so saturated with the rain that has blighted Australia's east coast in recent weeks that it looks like Glastonbury '95.
- Tom Chambers
Rain
The bad news is that it’s raining in Melbourne.
Ireland’s fixture against Afghanistan here at the MCG was abandoned earlier without a single ball being bowled.
Play is due to start at 09:00 GMT but the covers are still on and more rain is forecast.
- Tom Chambers
Welcome to the MCG
G’day and welcome to our coverage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super 12s match between England and Australia.
England arrive here off the back of a humiliating defeat to Ireland on Wednesday.
Rain mean that the result was decided by DLS but that will come as little consolation to an England side that had struggled throughout the contest.
Australia, meanwhile, swept Sri Lanka aside in Perth thanks to some impressive power hitting from their middle order.
The host nation had initially been struggling in reply to Sri Lanka’s 157 until Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, in particular, put on some fast runs after the powerplay to allow them to reach their target with more than three overs remaining.
Stoinis’ innings broke the record for the fastest ever T20 international fifty as he ended up with 59 off just 18 balls.
England have gone with a packed batting line-up so far in this tournament but, as of yet, none of their star players have quite lived up to the billing.
That being said, all it takes is for someone like Joss Buttler or Liam Livingstone to spend some time at the crease and England could take this game away from Australia very quickly.
Sparks always fly when these old foes come up against each other and this match proves to be no different.
Should be a cracker! – As long as we get some play…
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