Australia captain Ricky Ponting and England skipper Andrew Flintoff agree their game should be an exciting clash and a must-win affair for both sides, but they have no idea if the crowd in Jaipur will be paying much attention.

Organisers have brought in extra security for the match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the game falling during Hindu's annual Diwali festival which is synonymous with firecrackers and blinding light.

The lighting of oil lamps and fireworks is designed to symbolise showing Rama, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, the way home from exile.

"I sent out the boys to buy some gas masks. We might need some glasses or something to keep the smoke out of eyes," Ponting joked.

"We know there'll be a bit of haze, a bit of smoke, but we just hope we can see the ball"

Flintoff said he too was "in the dark" over the five-day festival.

"I'm in the same boat as Ricky. I've heard it's a festival of light and besides that, that's about the full extent that I know," he said.

"We're preparing for a game of cricket which in the context of this competition is a big game.

"So everything outside, Diwali and all that, it's all new to us and we are just going to concentrate on what we do on the pitch."

Flintoff added: "It is a big game for both teams. We've both lost a game in the competition.

"Obviously both sides now want to win two games to keep their hopes alive. We're going to approach it as a must-win game, which it is."

Australia lost to West Indies on Wednesday while England opened the tournament with a defeat against India last weekend.

Australia has one other Group A match to come, against India on October 29, with two wins likely to be required to advance to the semi-finals.

The match between Australia and England is a day-nighter due to start at 2.30pm (7pm AEST).

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