Champions Trophy: England v Australia preview and betting tips

Recommended bets: England v Australia

2pts England to beat Australia at 10/11 - tournament favourites and in-form hosts can see off the Australians

1pt Glenn Maxwell to be top Australia bat at 8/1 - good record against England and overpriced in a market dominated by Warner and Smith

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The weather has dealt Australia a harsh hand with two no-results from two outings but with New Zealand failing to beat England, their fate still lies in their own hands as long as Mother Nature (and rain is forecast) doesn't interfere.

England may have already qualified for the semi-finals but there will be no greater motivation than sending Australia home and Eoin Morgan and his men can be expected to be on their mettle.

England were impressive in beating New Zealand, who had the upper hand when rain intervened against Australia, and in both the 2004 and 2013 Champions Trophy tournaments they knocked out Australia at Edgbaston.

The Birmingham venue is one that they've enjoyed playing at recently too, having won their last two games by 210 runs and 10 wickets and they will fancy their chances of heading into the semi-finals with a perfect record.

Australia remain a talented and dangerous side with David Warner and Aaron Finch a threat from the off  and they are followed by a top-class bat in skipper Steve Smith but both Smith and Warner only average in the late 20s in One Day Internationals against England on these shores, against career averages in the mid-40s.

It's easy enough to excuse those figures in games that will often have been tagged on to Ashes series but there's no doubt that both are more effective on the hard, fast wickets of home and for all the talent that the rest of the squad undeniably possesses, there aren't many names that will strike fear into English hearts.

There remain weakenesses in the England squad with Jason Roy struggling for form and a bowling attack that performed excellently in Cardiff but that still has something to prove in terms of consistency at the highest level.

They are, though, a team that has the potential to make history with strength from top to bottom and they appear to be peaking at the right time if the events in Cardiff are anything to go by.

Jake Ball and Adil Rashid stepped up to the plate while Liam Plunkett and Mark Wood proved a real handful for the Kiwis, even allowing for the pitch being less than perfect. 

None of the batsmen went on to collect a big total but the majority looked in decent nick with Jos Buttler serving yet another reminder of what a dangerous player he is.

It is 10/11 each of both sides in places but England are the form team with home advantage and should be favourites; back them to knock the Aussies out of the Champions Trophy.

In keeping with the belief that England can make early inroads into the Australian batting line-up, or at least keep them in check, I'll have a small interest on Glenn Maxwell to top their batting at 8/1.

Warner and Smith obviously dominate the market but Maxwell is a dangerous player in the middle order with a career average in the 30s and 15 half-centuries, including four against England in 12 knocks (which also include 49 and 8*) and they're clearly a side he enjoys playing against and the 8/1 doesn't do him justice.

Where to watch on TV: Sky Sports 2, 1000 BST

Posted at 1127 BST on 08/06/17.