Australia will stick to its own plan against England: Finch

When they tried last June, they were swept 5-0 and reached their lowest ebb with a 242-run flogging at Trent Bridge.

Since then much has changed about Australia's team.

Steve Smith and David Warner are back and firing. Their front-line bowling attack is playing, too.

It's why ahead of Tuesday's World Cup heavyweights clash at Lord's, captain Aaron Finch has declared Australia will stick to their guns and run their own race.

He's not interested in imitating England's one-day revolution of the past four years by going flat out for 50 overs.

"We tried last year to beat them at their own game and it wasn't very successful," Finch said.

"We saw the scores that England were getting and we felt like we had to play the same way. The reality was that wasn't our best way to play. We weren't a side that has played together for three or four years that you can wear getting bowled out for 150 a couple of times. It's tough to play someone else's game - you have to be true to your game plan and what your style is."

Both Australia and England's styles at this year's World Cup have had their merit.

England's aggressive approach has seen them go at the fastest run-rate in the tournament (6.61) and blow teams out of the water.

But it can backfire. They were bundled out for just 212 chasing 233 against Sri Lanka last week.

Australia builds its innings and explodes late. Its run-rate is 6.48 and it rarely sees them in a hole.

Australia has had to answer questions over its firepower and if it can beat the big teams, but its lowest score in six games is 281.

Finch is unmoved.

"Guys that have been around and played a lot of one-day cricket sensed that that's not a sustainable way to play our one-day cricket," Finch said.

"You can go down the route of picking a T20-based side and hope for the best for 50 overs. But in a World Cup I'm not sure that was going to be the right way to go about it."

Crucial for Finch on Tuesday is having his bowlers hold their nerve when they are hit around, with chances often on offer.

Nine of England's squad go at a strike-rate quicker than 90, albeit with opener Jason Roy unlikely to beat a hamstring injury.

"At times if you get a little bit rattled your thinking can go out the window and you just run in and bowl and that's when they do get on top of you," Finch said.

"If you're producing your good balls and they're hitting you for four or six, you can't argue with that. Guys are allowed to play well. I've got no doubt they are going to go hard this game, too."

CRICKET WORLD CUP

Tuesday: England v Australia, Lord's, London, 7.30pm (AEST). TV: Live on Fox Sports and Gem.