Australia coach Mickey Arthur gave his side the day off on Sunday on the eve of their final World Twenty20 warm-up clash with defending champions England.

Monday’s game is due to start at 1400 AEST at Colombo’s Nondescripts Cricket Club ground, where Australia trounced New Zealand by 56 runs on Saturday.

Skipper George Bailey’s side had hoped to organise a training session at Premadasa Stadium on Sunday afternoon, however it was unavailable.

Both Australia’s Group B games against Ireland on Wednesday and West Indies three days later are at the venue, along with all three of their Super Eights games, should they qualify.

Sunday’s rest day may have come at a good time for the Australians, who arrived in Colombo this week after a tour of United Arab Emirates that included four one-day internationals against Afghanistan and Pakistan and three T20 Internationals against Pakistan.

Australia are yet to name a side for Monday’s game, but pace bowler Mitchell Starc and middle-order batsman David Hussey will be pushing hard for recalls after being rested from the New Zealand match.

Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell says he’s expecting England to be a strong unit with bat and ball despite the absence of controversial strokeplayer Kevin Pietersen, the 2010 World T20 player of the tournament.

“Even with losing KP they’ve been able to cover for him pretty well,” Maxwell says.

“I don’t think they’re going to miss him too much.

“Their middle order is quite strong. Eoin Morgan gives them amazing versatility.

“He’s a great finisher of the game and a really tough player to get out.

“Their bowling attack is excellent. They’ve got a great bowling coach in David Saker who has drilled them really well.”