England must win to stay alive

With all due respect to Bangladesh, who take on South Africa on Saturday, the biggest game of the weekend is on Easter Sunday itself when Australia, on course for a third straight World Cup triumph, take on an England side needing to win to stay alive.

The match will be staged in Antigua - weather permitting - and it is worth bearing in mind that a washout would give England a point, and theoretically, keep their chances alive.

But in truth, anything less than victory for England will probably end their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals - though it will mathematically still be possible - so Michael Vaughan's side should have no doubt in mind what job is to be done.

England did beat Australia 2-0 in the VB Series a couple of months ago but the Aussies are big favourites for this one, with bet365 making them 2/7 (1.28) and England 11/4 (3.25).

England's problems have come at the top of the order with Ed Joyce struggling and Vaughan himself not exactly cracking in the hundreds. Andrew Strauss could come in for Joyce, but the big problem is that England simply don't score fast enough at the top of the innings, which puts added pressure on the middle order.

Australia, by contrast, go hell for leather at the top of the order with Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, leaving the likes of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and co to build an innings.

Hayden and Ponting are joint favourites at 3/1, with Gilchrist 7/2 and Clarke 11/2. Andrew Symonds and Brad Hodge are 8/1, with Michael Hussey, one of the few players out of form, 9/1 and Brad Haddin 10/1.

For England, Kevin Pietersen, who has looked in great touch but has yet to go on to make a big score, is 11/4 favourite, with Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood both 9/2. Vaughan, Joyce and Strauss are all 5/1, while Andrew Flintoff 11/2 and Ravi Bopara 12/1.

Australia are 1/4 to make the better score after 10 overs, and 1/2 to have the better opening partnership. One ought to lead to the other, so put those two in a double and you get better than 4/5, which is not too bad.