The current world champions of the world can have a troublesome time in the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Just before the mega-event, the yellow shirts lost their key players: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood, and Mitchell Marsh are out because of injuries, Mitchell Starc pulled out due to some personal reasons, meanwhile, Marcus Stionis announced retirement from the ODI format.
Recent ODI form:
Australia will enter the Champions Trophy after a 2-0 series defeat from the Sri Lanka side as they were bowled out for under 200 runs in both of the games.
They also lost a home series against Pakistan in November.
Since their World Cup 2023 triumphant campaign, the side has played 13 ODIs, won seven, and lost six.
Squad:
Australia Champions Trophy squad: 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.
Probable Playing XI:
Travis Head
Matt Short
Steven Smith (c)
Marnus Labuschange
Alex Carey/Josh Inglis
Glenn Maxwell
Aaron Hardie
Sean Abbott
Nathan Ellis
Adam Zampa
Spencer Johnson
Key players:
Glenn Maxwell:
If not Maxwell, then who? Maxwell has been one of the mainstays of the Australian side ever since he made his debut.
In the 2023 World Cup, he pulled out a remarkable chase for his side, giving his all, batting with one leg, and winning an unthinkable game against Afghanistan.
And of course, Australia and their fans would be hoping for such heroics from this player given how their main players are not available for this competition.
Maxwell’s off-spin will also be handy and can help Australia manage and balance their side aptly.
Steven Smith:
In the absence of Pat Cummins, Steven Smith will be captaining Australia.
Smith’s performance against Sri Lanka in the ODI wasn’t up to the mark as he scored only 41 runs at an average of 20 in the two-match series.
Nevertheless, in the year 2024, he scored 306 runs in 10 innings at an average of 43. 7.
Earlier, Smith struggled with his form like in a series against Pakistan and then in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but he was on song against Sri Lanka in the Test series. If anything, the stand-in skipper will be hoping to translate his form in the Champions Trophy as he needs to bat well if Australia wants to win their first Champions Trophy since 2009.
Players to watch out for:
Matthew Short:
Short has been an outstanding player and is in incredible form as well.
The 29-year-old was a key player for Australia when they faced England in a bilateral in September last year as he took 5 wickets in one of the T20is, a remarkable feat to achieve despite being an opening batter. In the recent edition of the Big Bash League he was representing Adelaide Strikers and scored 236 runs in 7 games at an impressive strike rate of 177. His ability to open the innings and bowl will be vital in the Asian conditions.
Ben Dwarshuis:
Ben is another player to watch out for. He took 14 wickets in the recent edition of the Big Bash League while featuring for Sydney Sixers.
He also has the reputation of a hitter as despite being a bowler he scored 136 runs for the Sixers as well.
Strengths:
Australia’s batting will be their strength. The likes of Travis Head, Marnus Labuschange, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, and Maxwell will be the key players for the side and their contributions will be crucial if Australia desire advancing past the group stages in the Champions Trophy.
Concerns:
The bowling is their concern with the pace trio, Cummins, Hazelwood, and Starc are out, and Ellis will probably lead the pace attack.
The contributions from Adam Zampa will be mandatory in the middle overs as he’s one of the most experienced bowlers in the lineup now.
Australia will also need to make the tough decision as to who of Alex Carey and Josh Inglis will keep the wickets for the team. This is one of those questions which will persist even beyond the Champions Trophy. Alex Carey’s incredible comeback in the Test summer could make the management inclined towards him, however, he has only played a handful of ODI games since the conclusion of the ODI World Cup in 2023.
Australia can also not afford to get both the wicket keeper-batters on the team. For starters, it will thin the side’s bowling options. Although the Australian coach Andrew McDonald has oftentimes maintained how he strategizes to play a batter at no. 8 position, doing this at the expense of a bowling option would be an especially bad bargain.
In conclusion, no matter what, Australia is still a strong side and can make it to the semi final as no one can rule them out. No one can!
