Do or die for Australia

Who'd have thought it? Defeat for Australia against Sri Lanka on Thursday will send the world champions home and leave the World Twenty20 wide open, with any of the remaining teams capable of taking the trophy.

From the moment they lost to Zimbabwe in their opening match, Australia have not quite looked the dominant side we have grown accustomed to in the last decade. The format of the competition does not quite play into their hands and there is no question that the result can be taken out of their hands at times. But for them to be facing what is effectively a decider to make the last four still counts as a shock.

Of course, they may well come good when it matters as they so often do but they will not be taking Sri Lanka lightly. Bet365 make them 4/7 (1.56) to win it, while Sri Lanka are 5/4 (2.25).

Not only are Sri Lanka a fine side, particularly in any limited overs form of the game, they will also be buoyed by Ricky Ponting's absence from the Australians' line-up as the skipper is an integral part of the side.

Without him, they are still good, but not as good as with him and they will be most wary of the firepower of the Sri Lanka batting line-up, led as ever by opener Sanath Jayasuriya. The veteran left-hander is 5/2 favourite to topscore for his side, ahea of Upul Tharanga at 7/2.

Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara are both 4/1, while Chamara Silva is 7/1 and Tillekeratne Dilshan is a 10/1 chance.

Ponting's absence doesn't make any difference to the top of the betting to be top Australia scorer, which is led again by Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden at 3/1.

Brad Hodge is a 4/1 chance while Andrew Symonds, who has yet to fire in the tournament, is 9/2 and Michael Hussey and Shane Watson are both 6/1, with Michael Clarke 15/2.