LONDON, 21 September 2004 — England head into today’s Champions Trophy semifinal against Australia at Edgbaston without a win over their old rivals in their last 14 One-Day Internationals.

That last victory over the world champions came in January 1999 when a side skippered by Alec Stewart edged a seven-run win in a day/night match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia have looked almost invincible since and although their nine-wicket win over the US last week was expected, the way they swatted New Zealand into submission for a seven-wicket win on Thursday was awesome.

Damien Martyn smashed an unbeaten 60 and Andrew Symonds cracked 71 off 47 balls while 34-year-old Glenn McGrath, written off by some before the tournament, bagged three key wickets and may continue to keep Brett Lee out of the side.

“We are always trying to find areas to improve on but if we play anywhere near our best, then we will give anyone a tough game,” said captain Ricky Ponting.

Australia, who have never won the Champions Trophy, have such a tight hold over England that of their 14 successive wins only the last two could be called close.

In their last meeting, at the World Cup in South Africa in March 2003, Michael Bevan hit 74 to lead Australia to a two-wicket win on their way to retaining their title.

A crumb of comfort for England is that Bevan and Andy Bichel, who took seven wickets that day, are not in Australia’s Champions Trophy squad.

Another positive is that in the encounter in January last year, Michael Vaughan, now England captain, scored 60 as the visitors lost by five runs in Melbourne.

Vaughan’s one-day form since has been patchy at best and his struggle with the bat in the shorter version of the game was illustrated last week by the manner of his dismissal for five in the win over Sri Lanka — wandering across the stumps to be bowled around his legs by Nuwan Zoysa.

Vice captain Marcus Trescothick and all rounder Andrew Flintoff performed much better, hitting 66 and 104 respectively in the rain-affected match.

The fact that ICC One-Day Player of the Year Flintoff scored a century without striking the ball as cleanly as usual will enthuse England while the Australians will wonder what he is capable of in full flow.

Flintoff’s bowling has been equally important to England and it was after he returned as a bowler following ankle trouble earlier this month that England impressed to beat India 2-1.

Chigumbura Shines in Zimbabwe Tour Match

In Sheikhupura, Pakistan, all rounder Elton Chigumbura hit 81 to lift Zimbabwe in their two-day match against a Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman XI yesterday.

The 18-year-old’s fighting knock helped his side score 215 all out on the first day. PCB Chairman XI were 62-0 in 11 overs at the close in the 90-over-a-side match.

Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired when his side lost seven wickets for just 119 runs. Chigumbura struck 14 boundaries and shared an 85-run eighth wicket stand with Tawanda Mupariwa who scored 26 not out.

Alestar Maregwede with 26 and Dion Ebrahim with 25 were the other notable contributors for the tourists. Lanky pacer Mohammad Irshad staked his claims for a place in the Pakistan squad with 4-56.