Richardson jostles for playing XI spot

Kane Richardson is hopeful his impressive display against England will be enough to put him contention for a starting spot against Afghanistan in Australia's World Cup opener.

The South Australia paceman, who was only called in to the squad after injury ended Jhye Richardson's selection hopes, took 2-51 in the 12-run warm-up win over the hosts on Sunday.

He then bowled a superb penultimate over that yielded just six runs and put the brakes on England's quest to reach a target of 298 for victory.

Richardson sat out the practice win over the West Indies last week but is likely to get another chance to impress against Sri Lanka tonight (7.30pm AEST on Kayo and Fox Cricket).

With Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff, who played in the opening two warm-ups, expected to give way to Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, the 28-year-old hopes to give coach Justin Langer another gentle reminder of what he can offer.

But he's happy to defer to Starc and Cummins in the death bowling stakes if it means earning a starting spot next Saturday in Bristol.

"It's something I try and do for every team I play for," Richardson said.

"Conditions were good, it was kind of dark, the tailenders were in, it was a good time to bowl.

"I think if Starc and Cummins were playing they would have bowled at the end as well and Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) has done it again at the end so you don't need four blokes to do it.

"For me to play and do well I have to keep bowling well at all stages of the innings.

"That is what I am going to keep on trying to do and I am confident in my ability to do a job for the team."

For Australia to go deep in the World Cup they will have to find ways to neutralise the likes of Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler at the crease.

Buttler had threatened to take the game away from Australia on a big Southampton ground when he cracked a 31-ball 50 including 24 from a single Nathan Coulter-Nile over.

The Australian got his revenge in his next over with a slower ball and Usman Khawaja pouched the catch at short mid-wicket.

Richardson believes Buttler is up there with South African great AB de Villiers and said getting him out early is key to beating England.

"If a bloke can lap (shot), which he can, you know not to bring fine leg up," he said.

"But he hits them everywhere, even over mid-off so there is no real answer.

"He is AB de Villiers. They are neck and neck in their ability to change the game.

"Finchy said that when we play against him again we have to come up with something because he is so good.

"Hopefully we can get him on a good deck and the big boys can get him in early because bowling to him at the end of an innings is so tough."

2019 World Cup

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

May 22: (warm-up) Australia beat West Indies by seven wickets

May 25: (warm-up) Australia beat England by 12 runs

May 27: (warm-up) Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

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