Morgan confident England can handle left-arm duo

England insist the way they handled Trent Boult against New Zealand last week shows they can avoid another top-order disaster against Australia's left-armers.

Mitchell Starc and Jason Behrendorff took nine wickets between them when the two teams met a fortnight ago, as they ravaged England's top four.

Power hitter Jos Buttler was the only player not to fall to the pair, after England were reduced to 4-53 early and only one of their top four hit double figures.

The hosts have gone to lengths to avoid a repeat on Thursday.

Left-arm county quicks have been invited to training this weeks, sending down balls with the dog-thrower tool to increase the speed of batting drills on the angle.

They also have confidence after Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow hit 123 for the first wicket against New Zealand last Tuesday, denying left-arm quick Boult.

"Since then (the Australian game), we have played against quality bowling line-ups and overcome them," captain Eoin Morgan said.

"One of them obviously being a left-armer, Trent Boult.

"So to counter that, that is all we can do, we can practice as much as we can against left-armers, but we need to deliver tomorrow."

Morgan said England may look to play two spinners if the Edgbaston pitch looks like it may offer some turn.

The wickets of Roy and Bairstow will be key for Australia on Thursday, given they have averaged 84.80 as an opening partnership in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Australia accept their history at Edgbaston will be against them when they step out against England.

But captain Aaron Finch sees no reason why they can't change it.

Edgbaston is to England what the Gabba is to Australia. They just don't get beaten there.

They've won 10 straight games at the ground across all formats, dating back to September 2014.

In their four one-day matches there in that time they've scored at 7.11 an over with the bat while going for just 5.71 with the ball.

Australia's record is hardly as flattering. They haven't won at the venue since 2001 with eight losses and six games drawn.

The last time they beat England in a one-day match in Birmingham venue was way back in 1993 when Mark Waugh's brilliant 113 helped secure a six-wicket win.

However, they do have happy memories of their last encounter at Edgbaston in a World Cup when they tied with South Africa in one of the most memorable finishes to a semi-final ever on their way to winning the 1999 tournament.

"Obviously, history is right, you can't change that. That's a long time, too. It's not like it's one or two games," Finch said.

"They enjoy playing here, you call tell. They play the ground really well. They bowl quite well to the conditions here.

"We saw in the Indian game they came out with a lot of confidence with the bat and bowled nicely and got wickets early again.

"But history is there to be changed."

Part of England's success at the ground is also put down to the crowd.

Finch was involved in ongoing banter in the outer in Australia's game here last year, and fans have always made their voices heard early in Test series at the ground.

However, that advantage could be nullified on Thursday, with a significant amount of tickets believed to have been snapped up by Indian fans believing their team would come second or third.

But England were confident the 25,000-seat arena would still give them a lift.

"I think that is part and parcel of being the hosts, a little bit of home advantage," Morgan said.

"I think it plays a part here at Edgbaston. There is a reason we do have a lot of success here. The wicket tends to suit us but also the support as well.

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

July 6: Australia lost to South Africa by 10 runs

July 9: New Zealand beat India by 18 runs

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Australia v England, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, TBC v NZ, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE