For the record, the highest successful chase at Lord's is 326 by India against England in 2002. The 123-run opening stand was Australia's new record against England in World Cup, and second-best opening stand against England in ODI's, after 163 by the same pair at Melbourne in 2014. The 75-run stand between David Boon and Geoff March in the final at Kolkata on November 8, 1987 was the previous best opening stand for Australia against England in the mega event.
Chris Woakes got two wickets, while Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali got one each.
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, bottom row second left, and Prince Edward, top right, watch from a box during. AP Photo
6:35 PM IST: Ben Stokes with the last over. A dot, then Mitchell Starc takes a single, to cover. A dot, then Alex Carey hits the fourth ball for a four, to deep mid-wicket. A double off the next ball, to deep mid-wicket. Four to sweeper cover. 11 runs from the over. Carey unbeaten on 38 off 27. AUS-285/7.
4:41 PM IST: Adil Rashid continues. Four runs from his fourth over. AUS-129/1 after 24 overs.
Finally! A sigh of relief for England as Warner departs. AP Photo
4:39 PM IST: Moeen Ali on with his fourth over. And he strikes. David Warner (53 off 61) caught at backward point by Joe Root. FoW-123/1 (22.4 overs). Usman Khawaja is the new man. 11 runs from the over, including a six off the second ball, hit by Aaron Finch, over deep mid-wicket. AUS-125/1 after 23 overs.
England v Australia, it's time.
Chris Woakes has the ball in his hand, Aaron Finch will face the first ball.
Here we go!#ENGvAUS | #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/I9iLCd1QWG
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jason Behrendorff
For the Aussies, the habitual winners, this will serve as a marker for the upcoming Ashes series, which majority of English fans think is bigger than the ICC World Cup. Again, forget the obvious comparisons, historical accentuation, et al.
Four wins from six games! And England have suddenly lost the favourites tag. In contrast, Australia, with five wins from six, have as expected emerged as the obvious favourites. It's so simple. They know how to win, and when to play which brand of cricket against whom and where.
As things stand, England are in a very tight spot. They are fourth and a defeat against Australia, before meeting the two undefeated sides -- India and New Zealand -- will compromise their campaign. The sentence stops there.
And, England's record against all the three teams? They have not won a single World Cup match against Australia, India and New Zealand in the last 27 years.
What about Australia?
They are second, with five wins from six outings, and have fixtures against trans-Tasman neighbours New Zealand and bruised South Africa.
So, is this match as important as recent India vs Pakistan match, at least in sporting and tournament perspective.
Anyway, here we present you some key facts and numbers ahead of the match:
- Australia lost only once in their last seven ODI matches at Lord's against England (W5, T1). However, this is the first time these sides are facing each other at the venue since 2015.
- Joe Root has scores of 50 or more in six of his last seven ODI knocks (including two centuries). Strangely, the Yorkshireman had gone seven innings without a half-century beforehand.
- Joe Root, with 626 runs at an average of 62.60 in 11 innings, as England’s fifth highest run-getter in World Cup. His average is highest among seven England batsmen who made over 500 runs in World Cup.
- Mitchell Starc, with 37 wickets at an average of 14.27 in 14 matches, is the second highest wicket-taker for Australia in World Cup after Glenn McGrath (71 wickets in 39 matches).
- Jofra Archer and Mark Wood have claimed more wickets from short balls than anyone else at this World Cup, picking up eight and five respectively.
- England will be looking to avoid successive ODI defeats for the first time since January 2017. They have not lost two in a row on home soil since September 2015 (the second of those games coming against Australia at Lord's).
Key Quotes
"I think it's a good match-up for both teams. It's normally a really good game. The games we've played against them in the last two years, probably the scoreline hasn't been as fair as both sides have played. I think the way that both sides play lends itself to a good game of cricket, as well. So it will be a challenge for both sides I think," England captain Eoin Morgan
"I think that we're going in with a lot of confidence, no doubt. We've been playing some really good cricket and building up to I think where our level is to play really consistent international cricket on the big stage. And I think when you get into a situation where the crunch comes, it's going to be the team that holds their nerve," Australia captain Aaron Finch.
Australia (from): Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon
Also Read: How England Can Make The Semifinals