Must-win game for Aussies, England

While England is already through to the semifinals, all the pressure will be on Australia to perform after washouts against New Zealand and Bangladesh hurt its chances of making the last four.

Australia had to share points with both its previous opponents and now faces a bizarre situation where it could be out of the tournament without playing a full game. 

Rain threat over the crucial contest looms large as all three games here at Edgbaston have been affected by the weather, one being Australia-New Zealand washout while games between India and Pakistan, and South Africa and Pakistan, had to be curtailed. 

Even if the skies are clear on Saturday, Australia faces a daunting task against title favourite England, who has breezed into the semi-finals with emphatic wins over Bangladesh and New Zealand. 

The batsmen from Down Under did not get much time at the crease in the rain hit matches and now has to deal with a well-balanced English bowling attack. 

The top-order -- comprising David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steven Smith -- has still spent some time in the middle but the middler-order is severely short on match practice. 

However, Australia would be taking positives out of its bowling performance in its last game in which it bowled out Bangladesh for 182 before rain denied it a probable victory. 

Premier pacer Mitchell Starc fired with four wickets and was well supported by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. Leggie Adam Zampa too was impressive with two wickets in four overs. 

For England, opener Alex Hales scored his second fifty of the tournament against New Zealand while Joe Root came up with a half century after his unbeaten 133 in the Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh.