England vs Australia LIVE: ICC Cricket World Cup updates as Bairstow out first ball in chase of 286

Stokes and Malan rebuild after the early wickets (REUTERS)

England have one last chance to restore some pride in their Cricket World Cup campaign, and make a push for a place in the top eight, when they take on the old enemy Australia in Ahmedabad.

Jos Buttler’s side have fallen far short of all expectations surrounding the defending champions when they took off for India at the start of October, having recorded just one win from their six matches so far at the tournament.

Ben Stokes, who came out of retirement to help the team defend their title, admitted on the eve of the Australia match that England have been ‘crap’, and it is a statement that is hard to argue with.

England have one big opportunity against Pat Cummins’ side to restore some pride to the side, especially after the Australia captain could barely suppress laughter when asked about Buttler’s side’s fortunes at the end of October.

Follow all the live action in the blog below and get tips and a betting preview here:

England vs Australia

Ben Stokes admitted England have been ‘crap’ in the tournament

Australia bowled out for 286 – England set 287 to win

Wicket! Bairstow out for 0 – England 0-0

Wicket! Root out for 13! ct Inglis b Starc England 19-2

Wicket! Malan out for 50! ct Head b Cummins England 103-3

England 148-4 (33) Stokes 62, Ali 18, Hazlewood 0-24 (6)

15:31 , Sonia Twigg

Hazlewood has come back on to bowl, and there is little sign of the risk taking of the previous overs from Stokes.

Moeen Ali drives Hazlewood back down the ground for a boundary, six from the over.

England 146-4 (32) Stokes 61, Ali 13, Head 0-28 (5)

15:24 , Sonia Twigg

Head will continue, his first four overs have been good, just 20 runs from it. And Stokes has gone for it again!

Head has been launched over the rope for another maximum, Stokes has been absorbing pressure, but has just started to put it back on the opposition.

Eight runs from the over, that’s a bit more like it from England.

Stokes 50! England 138-4 (31) Ali 12, Starc 2-45 (8)

15:21 , Sonia Twigg

England are just hanging in there, but the runs are starting to become a bit hard to come by.

Starc is back on, and he has brought up his 50 with a huge hit into the stands! That was launched!

England 128-4 (30) Stokes 46, Ali 11, Head 0-20 (4)

15:16 , Sonia Twigg

Head has come back on and England might have to start going after him, but they haven’t yet, just four runs from the over.

England 125-4 (29) Stokes 44, Ali 10, Starc 2-35 (7)

15:13 , Sonia Twigg

David Warner makes a sprawling dive to stop Stokes picking up another boundary. The outfield is getting quicker.

Starc has come back on as Australia hunt for another wicket.

England 119-4 (28) Stokes 41, Ali 7, Zampa 1-14 (6)

15:08 , Sonia Twigg

Zampa starts his over with two wides. The required run rate is up over seven an over, but I don’t think England will be worrying about it too much at the moment.

Just the one run from the bat in the over, Zampa is bowling quick and flat, but England cannot find any gaps.

England 116-4 (27) Stokes 41, Ali 6, Cummins 1-24 (6)

15:04 , Sonia Twigg

Moeen Ali has his first boundary, but it’s flown off the edge, that was not necessarily a deliberate shot, but England might take any run they can get.

The second one is a thicker edge, almost identical to the first, but that one is close enough for third man to field.

England 107-4 (26) Stokes 37, Ali 1, Zampa 1-11 (5)

15:00 , Sonia Twigg

Zampa has been excellent, and he has the key wicket.

Wicket! Buttler out for 1! ct Green b Zampa – England 106-4

14:57 , Sonia Twigg

The England captain has gone! He came down the wicket and tried to hit Zampa back over his head but picked out Cameron Green.

Buttler has had a poor tournament, and his awful form with the bat continues.

England 106-3 (25) Stokes 37, Buttler 1, Cummins 1-15 (5)

14:54 , Sonia Twigg

Cummins has not given an inch here, he has bowled exceptionally.

He went through the variations, including a bouncer, at a pace pushing towards 90mph.

A maiden over from the Australian captain.

England 105-3 (24) Stokes 36, Buttler 1, Zampa 0-10 (4)

14:51 , Sonia Twigg

With the wicket Zampa has just been brought back on as well. Buttler has his first run, just tapping the ball into the off side.

Just three runs from that over.

England 103-3 (23) Stokes 35, Buttler 0, Cummins 1-15 (4)

14:47 , Sonia Twigg

The partnership had been worth 84 and just as England looked like building something, there is another breakthrough.

Buttler is in, he remains one of England’s best-ever white ball players, but like so many in this team he has been completely out of form in this tournament.

Wicket! Malan out for 50! ct Head b Cummins England 103-3

14:45 , Sonia Twigg

Malan brings up his 50 from 63 balls, including a six and four fours.

He just dabbed the ball down to third man, and has probably been the pick of the batters so far, he is the only one to have scored a century – against Bangladesh.

Just after bringing up the milestone, Malan has gone big at one and not got hold of it, it was taken by Travis Head at long leg.

Cummins brought himself on to find the breakthrough and he has done it!

England 101-2 (22) Malan 49, Stokes 34, Head 0-17 (3)

14:42 , Sonia Twigg

Head is being slowed down by Malan here, he is so quick at bowling these overs.

Stokes has come down the ground and hit Head over his head for six, but he is hobbling around slightly after having played it.

The next time he tries the same, but it’s a hack that skews into the field.

England 91-2 (21) Malan 46, Stokes 27, Stoinis 0-14 (2)

14:39 , Sonia Twigg

Malan flicks on leg side off his pads for four, a bit of width from Stoinis and he has been picked off.

They have looked to attack Stoinis having seen off the dangerous opening seamers, and won’t want to lose touch with the run rate after the steady start.

Malan has another boundary, but he has not got hold of it properly and more like fended it towards fine leg.

England 82-2 (20) Malan 38, Stokes 26, Head 0-8 (2)

14:35 , Sonia Twigg

Stokes is coming down the wicket and will be hoping some of his powerful shots will find the gaps soon.

Head has rattled through that over, 3 runs from it.

England 79-2 (19) Malan 37, Stokes 24, Stoinis 0-4 (1)

14:32 , Sonia Twigg

Stoinis has come on to bowl. England might have to start attacking the non-frontline bowlers soon as the run rate has just started to creep up.

But that being said, they cannot afford to take any risks.

England 75-2, Malan 35, Stokes 22, Head 0-5 (1)

14:29 , Sonia Twigg

Travis Head will bowl his first over, and England will be encouraged by that after struggling against Zampa and Malan plays one into the deep first ball of the over.

Five runs from it.

England 69-2 (17) Malan 32, Stokes 20, Starc 2-29 (6)

14:25 , Sonia Twigg

Stokes has driven Starc beautifully down the ground for his first boundary.

And a few balls later he brings out the pull shot, he’s faced 40 balls and looks to just be settling in. These two have steadied the ship slightly for England, after the two early wickets.

Eight runs from the over.

England 61-2 (16) Malan 30, Stokes 14, Zampa 0-7 (3)

14:20 , Sonia Twigg

Stokes turns Zampa around the corner for a single. England are just rotating the strike a bit better now and preventing getting stuck.

Four runs from that over from Zampa.

England 58-2 (15) Malan 29, Stokes 12, Starc 2-21 (5)

14:16 , Sonia Twigg

England are doing exactly what they have to do and just hanging in there.

England 53-2 (14) Malan 27, Stokes 9, Zampa 0-4 (2)

14:10 , Sonia Twigg

Zampa has a lot of variations and this doesn’t seem to be a surface with a lot of turn, but he has beaten Malan’s outside edge with a slightly quicker delivery.

Just three runs from Zampa’s over.

England 50-2 (13) Malan 25, Stokes 8, Cummins 0-13 (3)

14:07 , Sonia Twigg

Five from the over from Pat Cummins, and England can take their time to settle into the game now, 50 overs is a long time to bat.

England 44-2 (11) Stokes 7, Malan 20, Cummins 0-8 (2)

14:00 , Sonia Twigg

Malan has opened up a bit here, and has another four, this time off Cummins.

There was too much width from the bowler and Malan carved it away to the boundary over the slips.

England 38-2 (7) Malan 15, Stokes 6, Hazlewood 0-18 (5)

13:54 , Sonia Twigg

England have struggled to find the gaps in the field, but they are finding the middle of the bat, and after the powerplay will hope the space opens up to allow them to find the singles and rotate the strike.

It is not a high total to chase, but Australia have a few more runs on the board than England would have wanted them to.

And Malan has smashed Hazlewood for six!

England 31-2 (9) Malan 9, Stokes 5, Cummins 0-2 (1)

13:48 , Sonia Twigg

Cummins has brought himself on to bowl. Australia would love nothing more than another wicket in the powerplay, and England just have to hang on.

England 29-2 (8) Malan 8, Stokes 4, Hazlewood 0-11 (4)

13:45 , Sonia Twigg

Stokes has got one through the in-field, David Warner dived to make the stop, but England will have three from that.

He has looked a bit more in touch today, certainly than he did against India and maybe than he has all tournament.

England 25-2 (7) Malan 7, Stokes 1, Starc 2-16 (4)

13:40 , Sonia Twigg

Malan fires one to the boundary on the off side, it was just behind square and that will help relieve a tiny bit of pressure.

England 20-2 (6) Malan 3, Stokes 1, Hazlewood 0-7 (3)

13:35 , Sonia Twigg

A maiden over from Hazlewood, Stokes has just blocked that one out and is taking his time here.

England 20-2 (5) Malan 3, Stokes 1, Starc 2-11 (3)

13:31 , Sonia Twigg

Stokes is off the mark with a single, that is already better than 10-ball duck against Shami in the last match.

It’s just a case of weathering the storm here…not the first time that has been said about England this World Cup.

Wicket! Root out for 13! ct Inglis b Starc England 19-2

13:27 , Sonia Twigg

England just need to dig in here and see out the powerplay without losing wickets like they did against India.

Root flashes at one, and Australia have reviewed it for a caught behind.

Labuschagne was convinced, saying “that’s a huge noise”. And his conviction pays off, Root has gone!

England 19-1 (4) Root 13, Malan 3, Hazlewood 0-7 (2)

13:23 , Sonia Twigg

Root has another boundary, it was off the edge and well wide of Smith at slip.

He is struck on the pads again, but this time Australia choose not to review.

England 14-1 (3) Root 9, Malan 3, Starc 1-10 (2)

13:19 , Sonia Twigg

Stoinis has dropped Root! Root played it uppish and straight towards Stoinis, but he has spilled it!

Is that a let off?

England 11-1 (2) Malan 2, Root 7, Hazlewood 0-3 (1)

13:14 , Sonia Twigg

Hazlewood’s first delivery is wide and Malan leaves well alone after watching what happened to Bairstow.

He also leaves the next one which was not too far away from the stumps!

Malan has a single, playing Hazlewood down to third man.

England 7-1 (1) Malan 1, Root 6, Starc 1-7 (1)

13:08 , Sonia Twigg

Aaron Finch is even saying on commentary he feels sorry for Bairstow, that was just what England could not afford to do.

Root has started well though, a two towards backward point and then a drive back past Starc down the ground for four.

Root has been struck on the pad, the umpire’s finger does not move but Pat Cummins has reviewed, the ball was shown to be going over the stumps, and England can breathe a sigh of relief.

Wicket! Bairstow out for 0 – England 0-0

13:02 , Sonia Twigg

Bairstow is out first ball! He wafts at one down leg side and Inglis dives and takes the catch!

It was a loosener from Starc and Bairstow has gone after it and it caught the edge.

Australia all out for 286

12:58 , Sonia Twigg

Australia are making their way on the field, soon to be followed by Bairstow and Malan.

Australia all out for 286

12:55 , Sonia Twigg

Almost time for the second innings and England have to start steadily and try and keep wickets in hand – something they have not done in any match other than the single win over Bangladesh so far in the tournament.

Australia bowled out for 286

12:47 , Sonia Twigg

England have to perform with the bat today to not only keep their hopes of reaching the 2025 Champions Trophy alive, but restore some pride in their performances.

Ben Stokes admitted on the eve of the game that England have been ‘crap’ but against a team with so much history and rivalry, they won’t want to collapse like they did against India six days before.

Australia bowled out for 286

12:40 , Sonia Twigg

Here are some photos from the first innings:

(AP)

(REUTERS)

(AP)

(Getty Images)

Australia bowled out for 286

12:32 , Sonia Twigg

That feels like it might be slightly below-par from Australia. They might well be disappointed with that, so many players made starts, but only Labuschagne scored a half-century, and even he could not go big.

Labuschagne top-scored with 71, the wickets were shared out between the England bowlers, they kept on the pressure and struck at the right times to prevent a damaging partnership from falling.

Wicket! Starc out for 10! Australia bowled out for 286

12:30 , Sonia Twigg

Starc goes for a big shot and is caught on the edge of the ring from a variation. Ali takes the catch.

England have bowled out Australia for 286, it has been a good bowling and fielding performance from Buttler’s side, but their problem in this tournament has been with the batting.

Wicket! Zampa out for 29! ct. Buttler b Woakes – Australia 285-9

12:27 , Sonia Twigg

Zampa’s cameo of 29 from 19 comes to an end. He goes for another big shot but could only hit it straight in the air and this time someone – Buttler – was underneath it!

Australia 286-8 (49) Zampa 29, Starc 10, Willey 1-48 (10)

12:24 , Sonia Twigg

England are an over behind on the over rate counter, despite 20 overs from the spinners.

Another one is sent into the sky and again it lands safe! I think that takes the tally to four! Australia have had some luck today.

Zampa has smashed another down the ground, these are all useful runs, the partnership has moved to 37 from just 28 deliveries.

Australia 276-8 (48) Zampa 23, Starc 8, Woakes 2-53 (9)

12:20 , Sonia Twigg

After blocking the first two balls, Zampa has another boundary, pulled to backwards square to move to 20 from just 12.

Eight runs from the over.

Australia 268-8 (47) Zampa 16, Starc 7, Wood 2-70 (10)

12:15 , Sonia Twigg

The extra pace of Wood has rushed Zampa, but it has clipped the bat, flown over Buttler and will bring four more runs to the total.

The next one is muscled away down the ground for another four. Wood has not bowled badly, but Australia have eight runs from the first two balls.

Another ariel ball off the bat drops short of the field.

Australia 257-8 (46) Zampa 5, Starc 7, Willey 1-39 (9)

12:11 , Sonia Twigg

The runs have definitely dried up as Willey will continue. Root makes another dive on the boundary to prevent another four.

Willey has varied his pace as well here. Zampa has skied one that has gone straight in the air, but another one falls short of the fielders.

Australia 250-8 (45) Starc 3, Zampa 2, Wood 2-59 (9)

12:05 , Sonia Twigg

Wood has bowled well here, and England have the chance to bowl out Australia.

Wicket! Cummins out for 10! ct Malan b Wood – Australia 247-8

12:02 , Sonia Twigg

Wood comes back on but Cummins has a boundary, just angling his bat so the ball glanced off the face and ran away to the boundary.

He strikes next ball! It hit Cummins high on the bat and looped to Malan at midwicket, England have another wicket!

Wicket! Stoinis out for 35! ct Bairstow b Livingstone – Australia 241-7

11:57 , Sonia Twigg

This is the over for Australia to capitalise, Livingstone is back for a single over before it will be the turn of the seamers again to try and restrict the batters in the final few overs.

And that’s exactly what Stoinis does, smashing Livingstone into the stands for a big six into the leg side.

He follows it up with a four down the ground, this is great batting. He is using all of his strength to send this ball as far as he can.

The next ball he goes for one too many! A big heave into the leg side, high into the sky, and Jonny Bairstow jumps and takes a stunning catch to dismiss the Australian.

Australia 231-6 (43), Stoinis 25, Cummins 6, Willey 1-32 (8)

11:53 , Sonia Twigg

Stoinis has just wafted at one from Willey but doesn’t get an edge on it. The left-armer is into his eighth over.

The wicket of Green has done exactly what England needed, it has completely slowed down the run rate.

Stoinis miscues one for two, and Root has to make a diving stop on the boundary, it has been a good fielding performance from England.

Australia 226-6 (42) Stoinis 24, Cummins 2, Rashid 2-38 (10)

11:49 , Sonia Twigg

Rashid has been brought on for his final over, to Cummins. But there’s one over England have to find from either Livingstone or Ali.

Cummins after defending at the first three, pushes down the ground for a single.

Australia 224-6 (41) Stoinis 23, Cummins 1, Willey 1-27 (7)

11:47 , Sonia Twigg

A great over from Willey, four runs and a wicket, Cummins is off the mark.

Wicket! Green out for 47! b Willey – Australia 223-6

11:44 , Sonia Twigg

That’s just what England needed! Green pre-meditated the paddle sweep, and just got it all wrong, the ball crashes into leg stump and green has to go at what could be a crucial time in this innings.

Willey and England celebrate and they are into the bowlers now.

Australia 219-5 (40) Green 47, Stoinis 20, Woakes 2-45 (8)

11:40 , Sonia Twigg

Green is nearing his 50 after surviving that run-out chance, and Stoinis has opened up as well here.

There’s just over 10 overs left and the batters will want to start pushing the score on. The ball was dragged down by Woakes and Stoinis has pulled that for four.

This pair have put on more than 40 runs between them. Eight runs from that over, it’ll be interesting to see what England do here, because they need their seamers for the final overs.

Australia 212-5 (39) Green 45, Stoinis 15, Willey 0-23 (6)

11:34 , Sonia Twigg

Willey will bowl his sixth. Australia could look to attack the slightly slower bowling, and Green swings hard but there’s a good stop on the boundary from Woakes to prevent a boundary.

England have a run out chance! It’s sent upstairs, Green came a long way down the wicket before being sent back! It’s not a direct hit, Willey has to take the ball and dive at the stumps, but the batter’s dive sees him survive.

Australia 210-5 (38) Green 44, Stoinis 14, Woakes 2-38 (7)

11:29 , Sonia Twigg

Woakes, who bowled well at the top of the order, will return, and he’s been hit for four by Green who has driven perfectly into the gap first ball of his seventh over.

England have a run out chance but Malan misses the direct hit, that was a bit of a mix up in the calling from Australia.

Australia 202-5 (37) Green 39, Stoinis 11, Wood 1-52 (8)

11:23 , Sonia Twigg

Wood will continue, and Green continues to kook slightly unsettled against the England quick.

Stoinis against Wood and he plays it late and straight into his pads, that could have gone anywhere.

But he picks the gap and finishes the over with four.

Australia 197-5 (36) Green 38, Stoinis 7, Rashid 2-36 (9)

11:16 , Sonia Twigg

Green has a single first ball and Rashid has another chance at Stoinis, but he is already into his second-last over.

But Stoinis has smashed him into the stands for six, that is the first six for a long time in this innings! He follows it up with a lovely delivery that just beats the outside edge.

Australia 190-5 (35) Green 37, Stoinis 1, Wood 1-47 (7)

11:13 , Sonia Twigg

Wood will have a go at the new batter here after taking the wicket of Labuschagne at the end of his previous over.

It has been a tighter start, the last over was nine balls after three wides. Green has completely mistimed one that crashed into his gloves, and he did not look comfortable at all there.

The next one has gone to the boundary however, Green just put the bat in the way and the ball flew.

Australia 181-5 (34) Green 28, Stoinis 1, Rashid 2-29 (8)

11:07 , Sonia Twigg

It’s the match up England will have wanted, Adil Rashid against Stoinis who has struggled many times against the English spinner.

Wicket! Labuschagne out for 71! lbw Wood – Australia 178-5

11:02 , Sonia Twigg

Wood’s over starts with a wide, but the next one is hit high into the air by Green, but it falls short of the fielder on the boundary and over the ones in the ring.

There’s a couple of singles and then another two more wides. Not great from Wood, who hasn’t had the best tournament overall.

There’s a four flashed off the bat, and Wood does not look confident, but he might have a wicket there!

Labuschagne has immediately reviewed the decision, but he was struck on the pad and the umpire’s finger was in the air.

But there are three reds on the screen and Labuschagne has gone!

Australia 166-4 (32) Labuschagne 67, Green 21, Rashid 2-26 (7)

10:51 , Sonia Twigg

Rashid has done what he has done all innings and kept it tight. That will be drinks as well, it does seem quite hot out there, with the temperate in the mid-30s, but not as oppressive as Mumbai where players were cramping up almost constantly towards the end of the first innings.

Australia 162-4 (31) Labuschagne 64, Green 20, Wood 0-26 (5)

10:47 , Sonia Twigg

Mark Wood will come back on to replace Livingstone, and an injection of pace will hopefully bring another angle to this game.

There is just a hint of reverse, which will encourage the seamers.

The extra pace does also mean the ball comes off the bat quicker however, and Green has carved one into the off side for a boundary.

Green has absolutely skied one! The bat flew out of his hand and went further away than the ball, but neither Wood nor Buttler could get there in time. There were four fielders running towards it but none close enough to get a hand to it.

The next ball is short, wide and dispatched to the boundary!

Australia 152-4 (30) Labuschagne 62, Green 12, Rashid 2-21 (6)

10:41 , Sonia Twigg

Rashid has bowled very well here and Labuschagne is struggling to get the ball away.

He can only defend it back to the bowler. Just one run from the 30th over, Rashid has four more he can bowl.

Australia 152-4 (29) Labuschagne 62, Green 12, Livingstone 0-30 (5)

10:38 , Sonia Twigg

Livingstone drags one down and Bairstow dives on the boundary to try and stop the four. He manages to do so, but it has not been brilliant from the all-rounder.

Australia 146-4 (28) Labuschagne 59, Green 9, Rashid 2-21 (5)

10:34 , Sonia Twigg

Rashid will continue at the other end, he has bowled very well today and this over was no different.

Australia have not really been able to settle against him.

Having said that Labuschagne plays a strong cut behind square for a boundary from the final ball of the over.

Australia 138-4 (27) Labuschagne 52, Green 8, Livingstone 0-24 (4)

10:31 , Sonia Twigg

Ben Stokes has slid to stop one on the boundary and gingerly got to his feet, it is always a worry when he dives for the ball due to his ongoing left knee problems. He confirmed ahead of the match that he would be undergoing surgery after the World Cup.

Green smashes a boundary off Livingstone. It’s hard to work out why he’s bowling rather than some others who have looked more like taking wickets.

Australia 129-4 (26) Labuschagne 50, Green 1, Rashid 2-13 (4)

10:28 , Sonia Twigg

Labuschagne moves on to 49 with a ball that Bairstow has to dive for on the boundary, he doesn’t quite get it cleanly but it’s enough to stop the boundary.

However, Labuschagne brings up his milestone later in the over, from 63 deliveries, his second World Cup 50!

Australia 124-4 (25) Green 1, Labuschagne 45, Ali 0-28 (4)

10:24 , Sonia Twigg

Cameron Green has one run after that Rashid over, and Moeen will continue, Labuschagne edged it! But it has raced away for a boundary.

Labuschagne is nearing a half century with that delivery.

Wicket! Inglis out for 3! ct Moeen b Rashid – Australia 117-4

10:17 , Sonia Twigg

Inglis has carved Rashid straight to backward point! He goes for a reverse sweep and just plays it straight to Ali.

Inglis scored just three runs, and with one wicket comes two!

Australia 117-3 (23) Labuschagne 39, Inglis 3, Moeen 0-23 (3)

10:16 , Sonia Twigg

Ali will continue against the new batter Inglis, and this has been a much tighter line and length, with just three runs coming from it.

Wicket! Smith out for 44! ct Moeen b Rashid, Australia 113-3

10:10 , Sonia Twigg

The running from this pair has not been as sharp as it could be, there has been a bit of hesitation.

Smith has gone! Rashid has his and England’s wicket, he goes chasing a wide one and top-edged it to a diving Moeen Ali.

Australia 111-2 (21) Smith 43, Labuschagne 37, Ali 0-20 (2),

10:08 , Sonia Twigg

Smith hits one in the air but just past Woakes at mid off, he dives but can’t get a hand to it and it will be a boundary.

Another expensive over that from Ali, and the batters are starting to look pretty set.

Australia 101-2 (20) Smith 35, Labuschagne 35, Rashid 0-3 (1)

10:05 , Sonia Twigg

Rashid has now been brought on to bowl, but the 100 runs is up for Australia.

20 overs gone, England need another wicket, and as far as Australia are concerned, they can afford to take their time and wait while these two get set as there is still a lot of time left to accelerate later.

Australia 94-2 (19) Smith 34, Labuschagne 33, Ali 0-10 (1)

10:02 , Sonia Twigg

Moeen Ali has been brought into the attack, and has gone for a boundary. It’s starting to look a bit too comfortable for the pair in the middle as far as England are concerned.

An expensive over from Ali, 10 runs from it.

Australia 82-2 (17) Smith 26, Labuschagne 22, Wood 0-17 (4)

09:55 , Sonia Twigg

But Labuschagne has a boundary off Wood, that will ease some of the pressure.

It’s a bit disappointing to see England look to be content with just restricting Australia’s scoring rather than trying to take wickets, as that has so often been their undoing when it comes to their own innings.

Labuschagne is struck on the pad and England review! It’s missing the stumps and they will lose that review.

Australia 75-2 (16) Smith 25, Labuschagne 21, Livingstone 0-9 (2)

09:49 , Sonia Twigg

Livingstone will continue, and these two are just starting to look comfortable. They don’t seem to be troubled by either the pace of Wood or the spin of the all-rounder.

There hasn’t been a boundary since the 12th over.

Australia 70-2 (15) Smith 23, Labuschagne 17, Wood 0-12 (3)

09:43 , Sonia Twigg

Australia are struggling to find the runs here, there aren’t too many loose deliveries, but England are not doing what India did to them and really turning the screw and trying to impose themselves on the game.

Australia paused over a run but were able to scamper back.

Australia 64-2 (14) Smith 21, Labuschagne 13, Livingstone 0-3 (1)

09:38 , Sonia Twigg

Liam Livingstone has been brought on as England are in the hunt for a third wicket, interesting decision to go with him rather than the first-choice spinner in Rashid.

Three runs from it, with the batters not going after him, it might be a good time for him to get through a few overs.

Australia 61-2 (13) Smith 19, Labuschagne 12, Wood 0-6 (2)

09:35 , Sonia Twigg

Wood has been bowling quickly, but he has struggled for breakthroughs in this tournament, although today he has not gone for many runs.

Three runs from that over.

Australia 58-2 (12) Smith 17, Labuschagne 11, Woakes 2-30 (6)

09:30 , Sonia Twigg

Smith has edged it but short of Joe Root and straight into the ground.

But Labuschagne has eased that pressure a bit with a four, only his second of the match so far.

The next one has also just evaded Root at slip and Rashid dives and prevents a boundary.

Australia 50-2 (11) Smith 15, Labuschagne 6, Wood 0-3 (1)

09:26 , Sonia Twigg

Wood comes into the attack for the first time, and hits over 90mph almost immediately.

Three runs from his first over, since the loss of the openers, Australia’s run-scoring has just been pegged back slightly.

Australia 48-2 (10) Smith 13, Labuschagne 5, Woakes 2-23 (5)

09:21 , Sonia Twigg

Just the one from the over from Woakes, this is good pressure from England in the powerplay.

Australia 47-2 (9) Smith 12, Labuschagne 5, Willey 0-21 (5)

09:17 , Sonia Twigg

Slightly overpitched from Willey and Labuschagne has hit that for four.

Australia 41-2 (8) Smith 11, Labuschagne 1, Woakes 2-22 (4)

09:12 , Sonia Twigg

Another good over from Woakes, just the two runs from it.

Australia 39-2 (7) Smith 9 Labuschagne 1, Willey 0-16 (4)

09:08 , Sonia Twigg

Smith has inside-edged it but it’s fallen safe, he was trying to run it down to third man.

Labuschagne and Smith was always likely to slightly stem the flow of runs, and that was a good maiden.

Wicket! Warner out for 15! ct Willey b Woakes – Australia 38-2

09:01 , Sonia Twigg

Warner has smashed Woakes for a big six down the ground!

And he has gone, trying for another big shot and he skies it straight into the hands of David Willey!

That is just what England want.

Australia 32-1 (5) Warner 9, Smith 9, Willey 0-16 (3)

08:58 , Sonia Twigg

Willey has tightened up things here, until the last ball of the over which Smith hits for four.

Australia 26-1 (4) Warner 8, Smith 4, Woakes 1-13 (2)

08:51 , Sonia Twigg

Root appeals from first slip as Smith gets across his stumps! But Buttler was not having it and England choose not to review.

It’s a good thing they didn’t as impact was outside the line.

Warner doesn’t get hold of one properly but it still goes for a boundary, Australia have started quickly here.

Australia 15-1 (3) Smith 4, Warner 0, Willey 0-10 (2)

08:46 , Sonia Twigg

Warner inside edges it! But only onto his pads, England won’t mind that at all!

The next one has been driven hard but straight to Moeen Ali at cover.

Australia 11-1 (2) Smith 3, Warner 0, Woakes 1-5 (1)

08:42 , Sonia Twigg

A second slip comes in for the new batter, England will be encouraged by that!

Smith has almost missed one into his pads but as he so often does it has been worked for three.

Wicket! Head out for 11, ct Root b Woakes

08:40 , Sonia Twigg

After a slightly expensive first over, Chris Woakes will want to keep it tight against Head. The first ball comes into him and he can only defend it.

Head was fending at one that just nipped a bit off the seam, England might be encouraged by that.

But another wide one is smacked upwards and almost to the boundary, he has thrown his hands at that!

But the next one is the breakthrough they wanted! A perfect delivery, Head tries to work it down to third but edges it straight to Joe Root and England have their first wicket!

Australia 9-0 (1) Head 9, Warner 0, Willey 0-9 (1)

08:36 , Sonia Twigg

This stadium will not hold happy memories for England, they were beaten here by nine wickets at the hands of New Zealand in the opening match.

Head was off the mark immediately with a two from the first ball of the game, but there was a hint of swing a few balls later with one that just jagged back into the pads, and that’s what England will want.

Head goes for a big one over the top from the fourth ball of the over, it doesn’t quite make it to the boundary, but the intent is clear.

The next one is a bit wider and Head pounces! That one has gone all the way to the boundary! Australia have started so aggressively here.

And a single from the final ball means Head will keep strike.

England vs Australia

08:29 , Sonia Twigg

Anthems are done, and it’s time for England to take the field and try and regain some pride that has been lost in this tournament so far.

England vs Australia

08:25 , Sonia Twigg

The teams and the umpires are making their way to the middle for the national anthems.

England vs Australia

08:25 , Sonia Twigg

We’re now nearing the start of this match between England and Australia.

England will be desperate to avoid a collapse as has happened far too often this World Cup, while Australia would love nothing more than to get the better of the team they had to share the Ashes with in July.

England vs Australia

08:20 , Sonia Twigg

Questions have already been raised over what will happen after the World Cup – especially to captain Jos Buttler and head coach Matthew Mott. But Eoin Morgan took a step to dispel some of the rumours:

Eoin Morgan has distanced himself from the England white-ball coach’s job and says Matthew Mott should be given more time.

England are on the verge of crashing out of the World Cup after losing five of their six matches so far to sit bottom of the table.

After the defending champions’ latest defeat – against hosts India on Sunday – former one-day captain Morgan said the players were “definitely unsettled” and “there’s something else going on, there has to be”.

A bit far-fetched – Eoin Morgan dismisses link with England white-ball coach job

England vs Australia

08:18 , Sonia Twigg

Here are some photos from the stadium in Ahmedabad:

(REUTERS)

(Getty Images)

(REUTERS)

England vs Australia

08:15 , Sonia Twigg

In a slightly bizarre turn of events, England’s central contracts were announced during the World Cup.

Mark Wood has denied England were sidetracked by contract negotiations at the World Cup but admitted performances need to improve to live up to the new terms.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has revamped its central contract system in a bid to ward off the growing threat from T20 franchises, handing out long-term deals for the first time in addition to the usual annual extensions.

Wood was one of three players to sign a lucrative three-year term, having previously admitted that a huge offer to play in the United Arab Emirates was testing his resolve, with Joe Root and Harry Brook following suit.

Mark Wood insists contract talks were not distraction for England at World Cup

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website