CWC 2019: Justin Langer looking forward to Australia's marquee clash with England 

The arch-rivals take on each other in the ongoing World Cup at Lord's on Tuesday.

Australia defeated England in the warm-up game prior to the World Cup | Getty

Head coach Justin Langer is excited before Australia's next World Cup 2019 game on Tuesday (June 25) at Lord's against England. Langer said his troops are also eager to perform versus the arch-rivals at the Home of Cricket before adding they wouldn't step on the field complacent despite winning five of its six games in the tournament so far, especially against the No.1 ODI side that will be hurting after the loss in previous encounter to Sri Lanka. 

"One thing you will not have to worry about from where we have come from over the last 12 months is the Australian cricket team being complacent. Do not lose one second sleep about it," Langer told reporters. 

The key for Australia will be to try and out-bat England depending on the conditions. "We have a gameplan. We just got 381 (last game vs Bangladesh). It has been a long time since Australia got 381. There have been a lot of critics saying we can't do that. But I have maintained for a long time that if we stick to our gameplan and conditions are right we will be ok. We have done that for the last six months or so and hopefully we will keep doing that."

"What has clicked in the last six months is we have played some great games in India and Dubai. We have had some good games in this tournament without being at our best," Langer added. "We have Davey and Aaron Finch getting big hundreds up front, we have guys in the middle playing well and we have adaptability which is a strength and not a weakness. It is not what has clicked in the last couple of games but over the last six months."

"It is satisfying (to be second on the points table) but everyone knows whatever we do, people will try to pick holes in it. If Ussie had not made runs the other day we would have been smashed but he did and nobody said anything. That is life. That is okay. That is the business we are in."

Langer hailed Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer as the two key England players his troops must be wary of. "We have seen a lot of him (Archer) in the Big Bash. Adam Griffith is his coach at the (Hobart) Hurricanes, so we know a fair bit about Jofra. He is a brilliant athlete. He bowls fast, moves well and we are going to be on our toes for him as well," he said. 

England is currently fourth in the points table after four wins from six games, while Australia sits at second having won five of its six matches so far. Both teams have a few tough encounters coming up and aren't yet sure of a place in the semi-finals. 

"You can look at it in two ways. We all have a bit to do. They have their games. They will be tough games but it (the pressure) will be like that in the semifinal as well. They should be welcoming that. If you are nice and battle-hardened then you might be weary but you will be ready for the contest."

"For both teams it is a good thing. We have England, New Zealand and South Africa, teams we have had good contests with. It is a positive for whoever makes the semis, if they are playing tough cricket going into it," Langer said. 

"Can't wait for Tuesday. England at Lord's. World Cup. That is what we are thinking about. It is that exciting I can't wait for it. We will work out what happens after that but we can't wait for Tuesday."

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 24 Jun, 2019

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