CENTURION: 
at SuperSport Park here on Friday in the first semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Ricky Ponting’s men will enter the duel as the favourites — Australia drubbed England 6-1 in an ODI series that followed the Ashes — but England has been a rejuvenated side in the competition.
Interestingly, the last ODI between the two sides — on a pitch assisting spin — was won by England with off-spinner Graeme Swann scalping five. The wearing surface at Centurion could encourage spin.
Andrew Strauss’s men have fitness concerns though. Key all-rounder Stuart Broad has a suspect torn buttock muscle.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Prior, however, appears to have recovered well from a viral fever. If Prior still misses out, Eoin Morgan could don the big gloves again to lend the side balance although England has a regular ’keeper, Steven Davies, in the stand-by list.
England will need its pace spearhead James Anderson to fire. The paceman has been bowling with remarkable control.
England will need left-arm paceman Ryan Sidebottom to maintain the pressure from the other end. If Broad does not recover, England might field leg-spinning all-rounder Adil Rashid.
Brett Lee could influence the game for Australia in these conditions. He too can bend the ball back tellingly.
Australia is bound to miss Michael Clarke, particularly in the conditions at Centurion. He is a wristy player, who can work the ball into the empty spaces. David Hussey has been added to the squad as Clarke’s replacement.
The side winning the toss is likely to bat. Chasing under the lights in a huge game can be demanding in itself. The pitch too could play tricks in the second half of the match.
Australia Vs England CT Semi-final Today was first posted on October 2, 2009 at 1:15 pm.
NOTTINGHAM, England: Tim Paine scored his first one-day international century and Ricky Ponting pulled off two brilliant runouts as Australia beat England by 111 runs to lead the seven-game series 6-0 on Thursday.
