Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on Test Match Special

When they do leave grass on the pitch here it does generate pace. If the ball is not moving batsman love that. It is just a question whether there is moisture and sideways movement.

It's time for the anthems. There is a lot of Pakistan support in the crowd.

Image source, Reuters

With Pakistan winning the toss and choosing to bowl, we'll see David Warner in the action early.

His performance again India was criticised when he seemed to bat too slow given his side were chasing 353, only scoring 56 off 84 balls - his slowest ODI half century.

Aussie skipper Aaron Finch has backed him to regain his best form.

"I know he's been working a bit with JL (coach Justin Langer) and Punter (assistant coach Ricky Ponting) to just make sure he's in the right mind frame, but he's playing nicely," said opening partner Finch.

"Every evidence suggests he'll be back to his dangerous best.

"The last game in particular, India bowled really well to him at the start and he hit the field a lot," Finch said.

"Remember, he was out of the game for 14 months.

"At the international level, regardless of how good a player you are, it's just going to take a little bit of time, especially as an opening batter, to find your feet."

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on Test Match Special

The boundaries are short. The pitch is unusually green for an ODI match at Taunton and it is overcast so you'd think the seamers would enjoy themselves this morning.

BBC Weather's Simon King: "We should be alright today. The risk of a shower has gone now. It's overcast and will remain cloudy, certainly chilly, but at least we should get a full day's play."

"It's a different story for Trent Bridge tomorrow. Lots of showers are forecast and we're likely to see interruptions."

Lots of you have been asking why there aren't reserve days for these group stage games.

The ICC has defended its decision not to schedule them. Read what chief executive David Richardson has had to say.

Phil Smith: Why not have 2 pre-planned reserve days, and fit washed out games into that time with reduced overs if necessary? i.e if 4 washouts, play 4 25-over games. Better than no results, and can be planned in advance.

And their last meeting at the 2015 World Cup in Adelaide is not remembered for its result – a six wicket win for Australia in the quarter-finals – but for one of the great one-day bowling spells.

Wahab Riaz bowled at the speed of light to the Aussie top order and bounced out David Warner and Michael Clarke before a gripping battle with Shane Watson.

Wahab, egged on by his team-mates, bowled regularly in excess of 90mph and whistled the ball past Watson’s grille again and again, having a word or two too.

Watson survived through and led his team home with 64 not out.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Four years later Australia started their title defence against Pakistan in Johannesburg.

Up against Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, Australia fell to 86-4 and were rocking but up stepped a new hero.

Andrew Symonds smashed his maiden international century with 143 from 125 balls.

Australia went on to win by 82 runs and win the tournament.

There have been some memorable recent World Cup games between these two.

The last time the tournament was held in England they met in the group stage, a match won by Pakistan, and then again in the final with the Aussies trouncing their opponents.

Shane Warne took four wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 132. Australia knocked off the runs in 20.1 overs.

Image source, Getty Images

• Australia have won 14 of their last 15 ODI clashes with Pakistan, including their last eight in a row and most recently a 5-0 series whitewash in the UAE in March earlier this year.

Image source, Getty Images

I like it, Alex. Keep your suggestions coming.

Alex Hall: Penalty shootout style bowl off to decide rained off games - you score if you hit the stumps, best of 5 (select 5 bowlers) then sudden death! All XI players must take part etc.

BBC Test Match Special

Test Match Special will be on air with commentary of today's game from Taunton.

Alison Mitchell, Simon Mann, Dan Norcross, Geoff Lemon, Vic Marks, Ramiz Raja, Michael Vaughan are the commentators.

Listen on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra or by clicking the audio icon at the top of this page.

This is how things stand in the table.

Second place and eighth are separated by a point.

Tight.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson.

Pakistan XI: Imam-ul-Haq2 Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed (c & wk), Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir.

Both sides have dropped their leg-spinner in these seamer friendly conditions.

Australia make two changes. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis is injured so batsman Shaun Marsh comes in while Adam Zampa is out in place of quick Kane Richardson.

Pakistan have replaced leggie Shadab Khan with Shaheen Afridi.

Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed: "We will bowl first - it's a fresh pitch, with grass on it and there is a little bit of moisture around. Unfortunately we didn't play in the last game but we've had three days of hard practice."

Australia captain Aaron Finch: "I'd have bowled first too but we're confident we can post a good total. In one-off games against teams like this, you have to expect the best of the opposition. I think there'll be swing in the air and a little bit of seam today."

The most unsurprising decision of the day.

Pakistan win the toss and choose to bowl.

I can't decide which fast bowlers I'd least like to face in these cold, green, overcast conditions.

Wahab and Amir or Starc and Cummins.

It's a tough choice.

Image source, Getty Images