England will be looking to improve on their World Cup record against Australia when the teams meet at Lord’s on Tuesday.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at what the data can tell us ahead of the latest chapter in international cricket’s oldest rivalry.

World Cup record gives cause for concern

England's World Cup record against Australia
(PA Graphic)

England and Australia have met seven times at previous World Cups, with the Three Lions winning only two of those games and losing five.

What is more, England have never made a total over 250 in those encounters. Their current high-powered batting line-up will look to change that fact, although a failed chase of 233 against Sri Lanka last time out shows nothing can be taken for granted.

England’s two wins have come chasing small targets – 160 in 60 overs at Lord’s in 1979 and 172 in the 1992 tournament Down Under. In the five games they have lost, they have made 93, 204 for eight and 247 batting first, 246 for eight chasing 254, and 231 all out chasing an imposing 343 four years ago.

Their head-to-head record is better across all major competitions, with six wins and eight defeats when the Champions Trophy and other multi-team tournaments are also considered.

Thrill of the chase

Australia captain Aaron Finch, centre, at the coin toss against Afghanistan
Australia captain Aaron Finch, centre, at the coin toss against Afghanistan (Mark Kerton/PA)

While Australia hold the overall head-to-head advantage, the toss will have a role to play as the team batting second has won 81 of the 147 meetings – exactly the same as Australia’s winning record.

England have won only 24 of 70 meetings when batting first, 34.3 per cent, but that improves to 37 of 77 when chasing – a 48 per cent win rate which climbs to an even 50 per cent if the two no-results and a tie are excluded.

That tallies with England’s overall ODI record, winning 55.6 per cent of matches when chasing and 44.7 per cent when batting first – though their two defeats in the current World Cup have come when chasing.

Australia have a marginally better win rate when batting first throughout their history in ODIs, 61.7 per cent compared to 59.9 per cent when chasing.

Morgan leads recent resurgence

Eoin Morgan and England celebrate a series win over Australia
Eoin Morgan has a winning record as England captain against Australia (Mike Egerton/PA)

England narrowly hold a winning record against their old foes during this decade – 23 wins to 22 losses, with one no-result in 2013.

Current captain Eoin Morgan has been in charge for half of those games, with 12 wins and 10 defeats in addition to that wash-out.

The teams have met three times in major tournaments in the 2010s, with England victorious at the Champions Trophy in both 2013 and 2017, either side of a thumping Australian win at the 2015 World Cup.