Australia to focus on T20 wins: Maxwell

Seize the blood in the water moments, then win, then worry about net run rate - that's the formula for Australia ahead of their two remaining T20 World Cup group games.

Friday night's washout against England at the MCG leaves Australia fourth in group one with a negative run rate, but they will start strong favourites in games against Ireland and Afghanistan.

It is a similar scenario to last year, when Australia had big wins over Bangladesh and West Indies to reach the semi-finals on the way to claiming the title.

Star Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell says the key is not to put the cart before the horse.

"You have to get into a position where you can win the game. If you go into the game thinking about net run rate, it can make it really difficult," he said.

"You'll shoot yourself in the foot, really."

Australia will play Ireland at the Gabba next Monday and then Afghanistan on Friday at Adelaide Oval.

After New Zealand bludgeoned them at the start of the tournament, the hosts kept their title defence alive last week, with Marcus Stoinis starring in the strong win over Sri Lanka.

The England washout did not cruel Australia's hopes of reaching the semis, but left them with no margin for error.

Maxwell noted the Australian squad boasts nearly 3000 games of T20 experience and said that is a major advantage.

"That experience in T20 cricket certainly helps, especially in this sort of tournament where the smallest mistakes can get highlighted. You make one mistake and you're out of the tournament," he said.

He pointed to Stoinis's blistering innings - the fastest T20 half-century by an Australian - that guaranteed them the win over Sri Lanka.

"You've only got to look at 'Stoin's' innings ... it was almost like he was smelling a bit of blood and just going for it," Maxwell said.

"He was able to just attack at the right time, and then not let off – just keep the foot down – and he basically killed the game in like two overs."

Complicating Australia's campaign, COVID-19 continues to cause problems with Adam Zampa and Matthew Wade testing positive in the last few days.

Wade's potential absence had Maxwell practising with wicket keeping gloves.

Asking if he was a potential back-up keeper, Maxwell laughed and said "definitely not".

"If seven blokes get injured, there's a chance I might 'keep," he said.

But Maxwell also is enjoying the lack of rules now around COVID-19 cases.

"It's nice we're able to still have players available, depending on how they're feeling," he said.

"Over the last few years when people have been isolating for two weeks and doing all sorts of silly rules, it's nice to see a bit of common sense happen."

Looking to the Ireland game, Maxwell was impressed by their shock win over England last Wednesday and said they had bowled well.

"They look like a really good unit," he said.

"We're going to have to be on our game, especially at the Gabba where there's a chance for it to swing and seam.

"Hopefully we have no more washouts and we play some cricket."