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England opener questions Australia's confidence

England opener Jason Roy has questioned the effects of Australia's loss to South Africa, as opposition coach Justin Langer avoids verbal battle

Opener Jason Roy has set the scene for England's Ashes-flavoured World Cup semi-final, suggesting Australia might be suffering from fragile confidence after their defeat to South Africa.

The old rivals meet in the final four at Edgbaston on Thursday but would have been kept apart had Australia won their last group game against the Proteas.

Instead they lost by 10 runs to already eliminated opponents, setting up a mouth-watering knockout clash in Birmingham.

South Africa derail Australia on eve of semi-finals

"It should be a great game. I think them losing to South Africa might have knocked their confidence a bit," said Roy, before acknowledging that England's loss to Australia in the group stage might help balance the books.

"When you get to the semi-final stage any team you come up against is going to be a tough ask, mentally and physically. They hammered us at Lord's but who knows what it is going to bring?

"As exciting as it is, we've got to stay as relaxed as we can, understanding that it is a World Cup semi-final that doesn't come around very often and that we've been working towards this for years."

Fit-again Roy admitted that he feared for his own part in the tournament after tearing a hamstring while fielding against the West Indies, eventually missing three games.


Image Id: ACF7B528ECDF48859AE544F1B3F629B3 Image Caption: Jason Roy injures his hamstring against the West Indies in June // Getty

"I'll be honest, there was a bit of a fear I might be out, there was a bit of a scare there initially but I needed to stay positive around the group," he said.

"I was staying around the lads and travelling with them so I had to keep giving out positive vibes and try to help where I can."

Australia are well aware they will require early wickets on Thursday, with Roy and Jonny Bairstow averaging 84.80 for the opening stand when batting together.

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Roy didn't face Australia in England's loss a fortnight ago, but has averaged 68.20 in this year's World Cup, striking at a rate of 114.04.

Bairstow has meanwhile hit back-to-back centuries since that loss to Australia, after coming out swinging against criticism from the likes of former English captain Michael Vaughan.

There is a belief the opener thrives on being fired up by a verbal challenge, but Australian coach Justin Langer said his team won't get into a war of words with the hosts.

Langer provides update on World Cup squad

"We wont get into that sort of rubbish," Langer said.

"We've played them twice, we've played them in a practice game, we beat them twice.

"We've got the players and the camaraderie and the character and the feeling in the group to do it again.

"A World Cup semi final against England at Edgbaston - it's going to be great." 

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: Semi-Final 1, India v New Zealand, Old Trafford

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

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

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