Buchanan looks to eliminate England

John Buchanan believes Australia will all but eliminate England from the World Cup if they win Sunday's Super Eights clash. Australia are unbeaten in their five matches and top the second round standings as they bid for an unprecedented third straight title.

England have yet to beat a Test nation after losing to New Zealand and suffering an agonising two-run defeat against Sri Lanka in Antigua on Wednesday. However, they did beat the world champions 2-0 during the finals of the CB series in February.

"We're keen to make amends for that," Buchanan said. "But that's past history. Now we're in the West Indies and we've got a very important game for us. If we manage to come out on top of that well, we virtually eliminate another side out of the tournament and that's pretty important for us."

Buchanan said Australia's win over England in a 13-a-side warm-up match in St Vincent had in part atoned for their shock reverse on home soil. "I still viewed St Vincent as a proper one-day game, although you could play a couple of extra players," he said. "I thought we played pretty well there. I think both teams have progressed since the CB Series."

He said England's desperation for victory could work in their favour. "England at this stage are playing knockout cricket," he said. "Every game for them is a knockout game and that puts them on the razor's edge.

"It will be an exceptional contest. Any side that's playing for its life in the tournament, it understands fairly well what it has to do."

Buchanan said England had a long batting order and identified Ian Bell as a key figure. "Bell's come in at No. 3 and played a really pivotal role," he said. "He plays well with Kevin Pietersen and they've put some good partnerships together."

Australia must decide before Sunday's match whether to play an extra batsman or bowler following a left calf injury sustained by the allrounder Shane Watson during the ten-wicket win against Bangladesh. Queensland's James Hopes is on standby back in Australia but, in the short term, either Brad Hodge or Mitchell Johnson could come in on Sunday.

"We're still undecided," Buchanan said of the choice between a batsman or a bowler. "Both combinations present some strengths and some weaknesses. The upside of all of that is that it is making us re-think, although the preference would be to have a fit Shane Watson."

He said it was probably too early to ask Andrew Symonds, who is recovering from an arm injury, to bowl more than his offspin. "Andrew is Andrew and once he takes the field if he feels he needs to bowl medium-pace, he'll be talking strongly to the captain to say 'give me the opportunity to do it'."