Match preview: Australia v Scotland

Venue
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Team news
While the teams taking part in this game in Tasmania will find it important, the other side keeping a close eye will be South Africa, as the result could determine who they face in the quarter-finals.
With weather threatening to wash this game out, a single point to the Aussies will see them end in third place, setting up a final eight game against the Proteas. A win for the Aussies will push them to second, leaving the Sri Lankans to face AB de Villiers and co.
Scotland, meanwhile, are without a win here and in any World Cup, and will be keen to put on a good showing in their final outing, especially if the ICC have their way with a 10-team event in 2019.
The Aussies have made one change to the side, dropping spinner Xavier Doherty in favour of paceman Pat Cummins, who pipped Josh Hazlewood to the post to bowl alongside the Mitchells Johnson and Starc.
Skipper Michael Clarke has hinted that all-rounder Shane Watson may again be moved around the batting order, having batted at six last time out but possibly playing at five this time, as they look to get him back to form.
Scotland will be without their most experienced player, Majid Haq, after he was sent home for sending a tweet that broke their code of conduct. They do have Richie Berrington to call on though, after he was cleared of the injury niggle from earlier in the week.
Last encounter
Their most recent meeting was in Edinburgh in 2013, the fourth of four defeats for the Scots against the Aussies. That game saw the visitors win by 200 runs at the Grange Cricket Club, with Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh scoring big tons. Scotland were all out for 162, as Mitchell Johnson bagged four wickets.
World Cup meetings
They did not clash at the 2011 event, but 2007 saw the Aussies again win by a massive margin. Ricky Ponting's century saw his side make 334 for six, before Glenn McGrath and Shaun Tait shared the spoils to remove the Scots for 131, despite Colin Smith's 51.
The 1999 event, their only other World Cup meeting, saw Australia win by six wickets in Worcester.Scotland made 181 for seven, Shane Warne the main wicket-taker, before Mark Waugh's half ton saw them claim the points.
Key players
For Australia, paceman Mitchell Johnson has been a bogey man for Scotland before, and is likely to be again. He's been a bit in Mitchell Starc's shadow this tournament, and will be eager to add some 'easy' wickets to his records.
Scotland will also look to a bowler, with Josh Davey currently second on the wicket-taking list, the only Associate bowler in the top 10. He has been excellent in every game, always in vain, and will prize some Aussie scalps.
Umpires
Richard Illingworth and Ian Gould, Joel Wilson (3rd umpire), Jeff Crowe (match referee)
Weather
The match is due to start at 2:30pm, and the rain is forecast to arrive at around the same time, with a high chance that it won't let up. Do not bet on a full game.
Prediction
If there's a game, the Aussies will bag the two points.
Latest
-
England
Heather Knight renews call for five-day Tests after South Africa draw
The last women’s Test to end in a victory either way was in 2015.
-
England
Rain forces draw between England and South Africa in Taunton Test
Heather Knight’s side had looked to close in on victory on the final day.
-
England
England’s hopes of rare home Test victory dashed by bad weather at Taunton
Play against South Africa was eventually called off after four rain delays.
-
England
Ben Stokes: Workload of bowlers could be a game-changer
The England captain has admitted he deliberately pushed his team-mates to the limit at Headingley.
-
England
Is Jos Buttler the right man for England white-ball captaincy?
Buttler has been confirmed as Eoin Morgan’s successor in the job.
-
England
Jos Buttler takes over from Eoin Morgan as England’s limited-overs captain
Morgan announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
-
England
Dom Sibley to return to Surrey from Warwickshire at end of the season
Sibley has played all of his 22 Tests since joining the Bears.
-
England
James Anderson returns for England’s Test against India
Sam Billings also comes in as Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton miss out on the Edgbaston contest.
-
England
England name Sam Billings and James Anderson in XI for Test against India
Billings was drafted in at short notice for his second Test appearance against New Zealand last week as a Covid substitute for Ben Foakes.
-
News
Temporary stand collapses ahead of second day between Sri Lanka and Australia
Cricket Australia confirmed no one was underneath the small makeshift seating area.