AUS vs ENG semifinal: Australia win toss, opt to bat first against England

Five-time World Cup champions Australia will take a shot at the title for a 6th time

AUS vs ENG semifinal: Australia win toss, opt to bat first against England Australia are expected to rise to the occasion when the stakes are high | Reuters

Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss and chose to bat first against England in their World Cup semifinal at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Thursday.

The hosts are fielding an unchanged side. England have become a formidable one-day side and will look to Australia to take a shot at the World Cup for a fourth time. They have previously made it to the final in 1979, 1987 and 1992.

Australia made one change in their playing XI, replacing Usman Khawaja with Peter Handscomb. The five-time champions are not the 'invincible' team that they used to be, but when the stakes are high, they are sure to rise to the occasion. Aaron Finch and his team have made a phenomenal comeback that began with a rare series win in India in March.

England may have won 10 out of their last 12 meetings against Australia but they know well that the piece of statistic counts for little heading into the semifinal, especially after the Eoin Morgan-led side's 64-loss to them in the league stage.

The winner of the semifinal will play New Zealand in the final on Sunday.

Squads:

England: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Liam Plunkett, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Steven Smith, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon.

(With inputs from agencies)