Australia will look to improve its performance from the opening match when it takes on Bangladesh in a must-win Group A contest at The Oval here on Monday.
Steven Smith’s men earned a single point from their encounter against New Zealand when rain washed the game away.
The Australian pacers had given a good account of themselves against the Kiwis, particularly Josh Hazlewood who had clinched a six-wicket haul. But the men from Down Under will aim to improve their batting performance. The Australian batting had seemed a bit shaky in the first match, with the team losing three wickets in nine overs.
Moises Henriques may be given another go at number four but Australia captain Steve Smith may fancy playing the big-hitting Chris Lynn at the same spot. The Australians will mull playing leg-spiner Adam Zampa in the must-win clash.
Australia starts as favorites with Bangladesh having lost 18 of the previous 19 meetings between the two teams. Bangladesh, meanwhile, was let down by poor bowling in the tournament opener against hosts England, losing by eight wickets despite putting up 305 on the board.
Despite falling 20-30 runs short against England, Bangladesh will hope to carry its batting momentum against Australia. The team from the sub-continent looked a bowler short against the hosts and may bring pacer Taskin Ahmed into the playing XI.
Bangladesh must win this clash to stay alive in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
Squads:
Australia: Steve Smith (c), David Warner, Aaron Smith, Pat Cummins, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(wk), Adam Zampa.
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Sunzamul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam.
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