History lessons: Aussies prepared for 'different animal'

History has not been kind to England in knockout World Cup games, but their self-assured one-day side believe five-time champions Australia will face "different sort of animal" in their semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday.

Coach Justin Langer agreed a vastly different English side awaits Australia to the ones that have flopped repeatedly at big tournaments, having not only dominated 50-over cricket in recent years but also prompted other sides to question how they strategically approach the format.

England have not only never lifted a major 50-over trophy, they've won just three out of 10 do-or-die games at World Cups and have reached the decider only once, back in 1992.

Australia, on the other hand, have lifted four of the past five World Cups.

Fast bowler Liam Plunkett has seen England fail to reach the final four of the tournament three times since his ODI debut in 2005, but insisted a deep-seated confidence now permeates the side.

"They've been there, they've done it - not against this bunch of players," Plunkett, 34, said after being reminded Australia are unbeaten in all seven of their World Cup semi-finals.

"We're a different sort of animal compared to (previous) teams. We're ranked No.1 and we're feeling in a great place. We feel like life if we play our brand of cricket, we can beat anyone in the world.

"Being involved in England squads in the past and playing in ODI teams early on, you didn't really expect to win World Cups. We had amazing players, but you never thought you'd win a World Cup.

"I don't think I'll play in another World Cup myself so for me individually it probably is the biggest game (of my career)."

Langer is aware England's one-day team have been playing world-beating cricket for a number of years, while his own side have only got their act together in recent months following a torrid run of results before his tenure begun.

But the former Test batsman believes the past, including Australia’s former glories, will have little bearing on Thursday, stressing that "champions" would decide the high-stakes encounter.

"That's about mental toughness as well," said Langer. "The great players in the past have been incredibly mentally strong and that is why they are great players.

"Mentally-strong players, the champions stand up in big games, so we are lucky to have mentally strong-players, and so are England. And that is why it is going to be such a great game.

"The champions stand up in these big games – we'll see who has got the best champions in this one."

Both second-placed Australia and third-placed England have had hiccups during their campaign.

Having dropped just one of their first eight games, the Aussies have had been confronted by numerous challenges in recent days, losing Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja to injury and going down to under-performers South Africa.

England lost games to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and then Australia during the group stages before bouncing back when the heat was on to defeat fellow semi-finalists India and New Zealand in consecutive games to secure a top-four berth.

And Plunkett believes they timed their “blip”, and subsequent resurgence, perfectly.

"We had a few bad games and maybe went away from our style of cricket," said Plunkett. "But I feel like we caught that in time and went back to playing our best brand of cricket.

"I think like we had a wobble at the right time, a bit of a blip but it's made us stronger now. We would have taken it at the start of the competition how we're feeling now."

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