Australia cricket team have been dealt with several blows heading into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Firstly, they will be playing without the services of their experienced trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Adding salt to the wounds are Marcus Stoinis’ sudden decision to announce his retirement from ODIs and Mitchell Marsh being ruled out of the tournament. The Steve Smith-led side boasts of inexperience. This puts the defending ODI World Cup champions in a tough position.
Strengths: Power-packed batting order ft. underperforming stars
Australia’s strength heading into the Champions Trophy is undoubtedly their batting line-up. Apart from the likes of Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey, the rest of the batting line-up is relatively inexperienced. Australia could have taken a gamble with Stoinis opening the innings. However, his last-minute call to retire means Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short are likely to open the innings for Australia.
The team comprises of a solid middle-order on paper, boasting of the likes of Smith, Labuschagne, Head and Carey. However, Labuschagne has struggled as the number three batter while Head failed to fire his stint as opener in the lone AUS vs SL ODIs. Glenn Maxwell, who will be expected to play a crucial role in the middle-order, is pretty much unreliable.
Latest news
- PBKS owner Ness Wadia lashes out at Josh Inglis, reveals real reason for not retaining him
- Jharkhand vs Haryana, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 final LIVE
- Yashasvi Jaiswal could miss few Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, lost 2 kilos due to food poisoning
Weakness: Pace & spin units
Australia’s weakness will definitely be their pace and spin unit. Without the services of the experienced trio of Starc-Cummins-Hazlewood, Smith and co. will enter the tournament depending on the inexperienced lot comprising of Sean Abott, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson. The spin unit comprises of Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha and Glenn Maxwell. A problem that is more than evident is the lack of spinners that Australia are carrying for the Champions Trophy. Given that they will play their matches in Pakistan or Dubai, spin will play a crucial role and Australia seem to have very little answers.
Australia squad for Champions Trophy
Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa
Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.
