With only two teams qualifying for the semi-finals, Head is aware Australia cannot afford to make a false start similar to the 2023 World Cup, when they lost their first two matches before winning the next nine to lift the trophy.
A lot of onus falls on experienced quartet Steve Smith, who is standing in as skipper for Cummins, plus Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell and Head as Australia take on South Africa and Afghanistan after England in their group.
While Carse, a hit-the-deck bowler who has troubled Head with shorter deliveries, is a slight doubt with a toe injury at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium this weekend, England have 90mph-plus options in Mark Wood and Jofra Archer and neither Saqib Mahmood nor Gus Atkinson are slouches on the speed gun.
Australia opener Travis Head accepts he will have his “work cut out” against England’s pacemen as the Ashes rivals lock horns in their Champions Trophy opener on Saturday.
Head collected the player of the one-day international series award when Australia edged England 3-2 last September, averaging nearly 83 at a strike-rate in excess of 120 with the bat and claiming a four-for in the decider with his under-rated off-spin.
