Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst

'Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst,' it's a proverb that seems so fitting when discussing the prospects of the English cricket team.

There has been many highs and lows over the past twelve months, reclaiming the Ashes off bitter enemies Australia the top of any cricket fans list.

The latest success - progressing to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy - has surprised us all, not least after a 6-1 thrashing in their recent one-day series against the Aussies on home soil.

Now the two old friends meet again on Friday as a place in the final of the competition beckons for the winner.

Australia are the reigning champions of the tournament that is second in importance only to the World Cup, but it's fair to say their credentials in this form of the game have done nothing but slip since then.

England are no strangers to this stage of the competition either as they were the runners-up in 2004, losing to West Indies in the final.

Not many in the cricket world will fancy England, but yet again not many did leading up to the Ashes.

Andrew Strauss and the England coaching team must convince their players that they can overcome their rivals otherwise this will be a foregone conclusion.

Prayers will be said, fingers will be crossed and all other pre-match rituals will be executed before the first ball is sent on Friday. At the same time I will be preparing my scripted post-match thoughts on how we did well to progress so far in the event.

Let's hope the script will not be needed on this occasion and England add another sucker blow to 2009 for Australia.