Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a big challenge for the Pakistan batsmen. They look light on paper, with a long tail and not a lot of experience in the top order. So the big challenge is whether they can they get a significant score against an Aussie attack that has looked pretty potent? This pitch used to be a sleepy, benign batting surface, but it's got spicier and we think it is going to be quite quick by Adelaide standards.

"After two one-sided quarter-finals, we need a good game for the sake of the tournament."

Positives for Pakistan? Well, these two have met eight times in World Cup fixtures, with the record standing at a much more even four win apiece.

The most recent of those came in 2011 in Colombo when Pakistan emerged victorious by four wickets in a low-scoring Group A game. Umar Akmal's 40 not our helped his side to the win with nine overs remaining after the Aussie's had been dismissed for 176.

Image source, Getty Images

Ilyas Najib: Came home from work at 10pm, haven't slept a wink, but my word am I pumped to see the cornered tigers bat & post a big total.

So who will come out on top today? Pakistan have their backers, but Australia are strong favourites - and not just because of home advantage.

Australia have won 11 of the last 13 ODIs between these teams, including all of the last four.

In addition, Pakistan's win/loss ratio at the Adelaide Oval is a miserable 0.33 - their lowest of all venues that they have played 15 or more ODIs at. Pakistan have won only one of the six ODIs they have played against Australia at Adelaide.

The winners of today's match faces an almighty challenge in the semis.

Image source, AFP

Yesterday, India continued their World Cup defence in impressive fashion, brushing aside Bangladesh in the last eight courtesy of a 109-run victory in Melbourne. Opener Rohit Sharma made a composed 137 from 126 balls and Suresh Raina 65 from 57 as India recovered from 115-3 to post 302-6 at the MCG. Bangladesh then limped to 193 all-out.

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But if Pakistan are going to spring a surprise against Australia today, they're going to have to do it without one of their key players. Fast bowler Mohammed Irfan has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a stress fracture of the pelvis.

Irfan picked up eight wickets in his five matches and his absence will be a big blow to Pakistan's seam attack.

No replacement has been named for the giant left-armer, but Junaid Khan could come into the reckoning if Pakistan get through this match.

Image source, Getty Images

So whaddaya know? South Africa - maybe they don't always choke on the big stage. New Zealand - turns out they're not such dark horses after all. And India? Well perhaps they're not as bad at this whole seam bowling malarkey as we thought.

Some stereotypes however are harder to shift. It looks like we'll still be talking about mercurial, unpredictable Pakistan for a little while yet.

For the first two-and-a-half matches of this tournament, Pakistan were flat-out awful. A heavy loss to India was followed by a catastrophic defeat to West Indies, and when they crawled to a score of 14-2 after 10 overs of their match against Zimbabwe, it looked like the 'cornered tigers' would be traipsing home with their tails between their legs.

But suddenly they bared their teeth. Pakistan's bowlers defended a target of 236 against Zimbabwe, then hustled their way to victories against South Africa and Ireland. Now here they are, ready to take on one of one-day cricket's big beasts...

Australia have made one change - Josh Hazlewood replaces Pat Cummins as the third seamer. Pakistan have selected the same team that beat Ireland the other day.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood.

Pakistan XI: Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq: "This looks a bit different from the last two pitches we've played on. I'm not sure about reverse swing but I think we will get a bit of conventional swing."

Australia captain Michael Clarke: "I'm not that bothered [to lose the toss]. It looks like a beautiful wicket. You've got to bowl at some stage. Why not now? They've left a bit of grass on the pitch so hopeflly we'll see some pace and carry and hopefully some swing with the new ball."

Big news from the middle at the Adelaide Oval - Pakistan have won the toss and captain Misbah-ul-Haq has decided that his team will bat first.

Welcome our live text commentary of the third World Cup quarter-final. There are five games to go and at the end of today's action there will be just five teams remaining.

It's Australia v Pakistan at Adelaide. The prize? A place in the semis against India.

Image source, Getty Images

In about six-and-a-half hours, the Moon will pass across the Sun and Britain will be plunged into darkness in a historic eclipse lasting around two minutes.

But before all that, two of world cricket's celestial bodies will be crossing paths in a World Cup quarter-final - with outsiders Pakistan aiming to plunge host nation Australia into a sporting darkness which could take a lot longer to shift.

The two teams have been on different orbits so far, but today will one will be blocked out for good, and one will shine on. And don't worry - unlike the eclipse, this is one event you are welcome to look directly at.