Australia keen to justify their favourite's tag

Australia will want to justify their favourite's tag in this year's ICC Champions Trophy by demolishing outsiders, the United States.

Australia will want to justify their favourite's tag in this year's ICC Champions Trophy by demolishing outsiders the United States in their first match at Southampton on Monday.

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New Zealand smashed 347 for four in their 50 overs against an American side with an average age of 35 on their way to a record 210-run victory in the first match of the tournament on Friday.

Australians like nothing better than a challenge and they will surely be looking to trump New Zealand's score and winning margin.

Nathan Astle hit 145 not out on Friday, the second highest one-day score by a New Zealander, as they plundered 122 off the last six overs.

"I was a bit scratchy to start with as it was hard to get used to the slower bowling," Astle cheekily said afterwards.

With the weather looking unpredictable, Australia will also want to outdo New Zealand on the run rate just in case the clash with their Antipodean rivals in the final game of Group A next Thursday is totally washed out.