WHO: Australia vs England
That: ICC T20 World Cup 2024 Group B Match
When: Saturday June 8, 1:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. GMT)
Where: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
How to follow: Al Jazeera will have live text coverage of the match from 14:00 GMT.
After rain played a spoilsport in their first T20 World Cup match, defending champions England will be under pressure to seek a win against rivals Australia when they meet in their important Group B match at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
England and Scotland shared a point each after their match at the same venue was abandoned on Tuesday. Jos Buttler's team, bidding to become the first team to retain the trophy, looked below their best, allowing the Scots to reach 90-0 in 10 overs.
England are fourth in Group B with one point, while Australia are second with two points after beating Oman in their first match. The group is led by Scotland, who have three points from two games, while Namibia are third with two points from two games and Oman are in last place after losing two games.
A loss to ODI world champions Australia on Saturday could leave England's qualification to the Super Eight in jeopardy, but batsman Jonny Bairstow doesn't want the permutations to affect him.
“This doesn't derail us in any way,” Bairstow told reporters Friday. “We know we have to win more games than we lose in a cricket tournament, that's just part and parcel of it.
“A victory puts you in a position in the group, but in the end the other two games [against Oman and Nambia] They are games you have to win anyway.
“It will be good for momentum and confidence. [to beat Australia]”he added.
Bairstow described the contest between the Ashes rivals as “a great spectacle”.
“The guys have been playing against each other for a long time, which in a lot of ways is really exciting because they know each other's games,” he said. “Hopefully it will be a fantastic atmosphere as it always is in Barbados.”
Australia 'encouraged' by confrontation with England
Australia got off to a shaky start in their match against Oman before all-rounder Marcus Stoinis shone with bat and ball and cruised to a comfortable 39-run win.
Captain Mitchell Marsh said his team felt a little nervous in that match, but was happy with the win and was looking forward to Saturday's clash against familiar foes England.
Marsh expects English fans to outnumber Australian fans for the game in Barbados, jokingly adding that the atmosphere would be the same as Headingley in Leeds.
“I dare say it will be full and it will be mostly English fans, so it will be like playing Headingly everywhere or anywhere in England where you get sprayed,” Marsh said. “But just the atmosphere, the vibe of the game, the stakes are always high. And I think as a team we always want to challenge ourselves against the best.
“England have been exceptional in this format for a long period of time, so there will certainly be a lot in the game and we are excited.”
Head to head
Australia and England have played 23 T20 international matches, with England winning 11 games, Australia 10 and two matches ending in a no contest.
forms guide
Australia began their campaign with a victory over Oman. Prior to the tournament, they played two series in February, celebrating a 3-0 series win against Trans-Tasman neighbors New Zealand and a 2-1 series win over the West Indies.
England's first World Cup match against Scotland ended without a result after rain ruined the match. Before the tournament, England won 2-0 in a rain-affected four-match series against Pakistan.
Australia: WWWL
England: WWLWW
Field and weather conditions.
Kensington Oval has hosted four matches and all have produced mixed results. The first match was a low-scoring match, the second was eliminated, while the third and fourth matches saw goals in the region of 155-165.
Saturday's game, which will begin in the afternoon, will be played on a new surface. Rain is forecast in the morning and around game time.
australia team news
Pat Cummins will return for this match after being rested against Oman. Mitchell Starc, who left the field in the last match with cramps, is expected to be fit.
Both players had a long time in the Indian Premier League and played in the final on May 26.
Equipment: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis.
england team news
England don't have any injury problems.
Equipment: Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood.
