Australia get their first chance to play in front of the Shane Warne Stand as their T20 World Cup finals hopes go on the line against England.
But it’s been a dramatic build up for the Aussies, with confirmation Matthew Wade has tested positive for Covid and could miss the MCG clash on Friday night.
A big game one loss to New Zealand has seen the Aussies slip to second-last in their Group 1 – with only the top two teams going through to next month’s semi finals.
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The Aussies haven’t beaten England, who suffered their own humiliating loss to Ireland on Wednesday night, in a T20 international since September 2020.
Read everything you need to know about Friday’s Australia v England clash:
START TIME
Australia will take on England in their third match of the T20 World Cup, with the first ball from 7pm AEDT at the MCG.
Gates 1 and 3 will open from 1.30pm while those needing gates 2, 4 and 5 will be able to access their seats from 5.30pm.
The innings break is scheduled between 8.30pm and 8.50pm, with the match due for completion by 10.15pm.
Australian cricketer to take break | 00:32
WEATHER
England are set to endure their second-straight rain affected clash when they take on the Aussies on Friday night.
Between 4mm and 6mm is forecast to fall on Melbourne, with a 90 per cent chance of showers throughout the day.
But in some good news for the two teams, the chance of rain is set to drop to just 25 per cent by the time the first ball is bowled at 7pm.
Temperatures are forecast to hover around the 11C-14C mark for the international blockbuster.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
England lead 3-0 in the past five T20 meetings between the two sides.
Oct 14, 2022 NO RESULT: England 2-112 (12 overs), Australia 3-30 (3.5/12)
Oct 12, 2022 ENG WIN by 8 runs: England 7-178, Australia 6-170
Oct 9, 2022 ENG WIN by 8 runs: England 6-208, Australia 9-200
Oct 31, 2021 ENG WIN by 8 wickets: England 2-126 (11.4), Australia 125
Sept 8, 2020 AUS WIN by 5 wickets: Australia 5-146 (19.3), England 6-145
Ireland pull off famous win over England | 01:06
TEAM NEWS
All-rounder Glenn Maxwell had to make a mad dash to the Kookaburra factory in Melbourne on Thursday morning after confirmation the only wicketkeeper in the squad, Matt Wade had tested positive for Covid.
While the Aussies remain confident Wade will be fit enough to take his place in the side on Friday night, the team opted for a safe approach by sending Maxwell to get fitted for some gloves.
Maxwell was spotted practising his wicketkeeping at training on Thursday, while David Warner looms as another potential option behind the stumps after taking the gloves in a Test match back in 2014.
Should Wade get the green light to play, he would need to travel to the ground away from the team and would not be able to use the same changeroom as his Aussie teammates.
Adam Zampa is set to return to the side to face England after he has recovered from Covid, while Aaron Finch has backed himself to remain at the top of the Australian order despite a lean run of form.
“The only pressure is the expectation you put on yourself,” he told media on Thursday.
“It doesn’t get much bigger than mcg with a full house with a lot on the line.”
For England, the team is still reeling from the shock loss to Ireland which was savaged by the UK press.
Captain Jos Buttler admitted his players were “hurting” after the T20 humiliation on Wednesday night.
“We’re a long way short of where we needed to be,” he said.
“No doubt I expect a reaction from the team.”
England were woeful with the ball, despite resisting the temptation to rest both Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, and were left five runs short when the DLS came into play due to rain.
