January 13th 2025.
Sydney: The anticipation and excitement for the upcoming Champions Trophy is at an all-time high as the Australian cricket team has announced their squad for the tournament. In a surprising turn of events, pacer Pat Cummins has been named as the captain, while his teammate Josh Hazlewood has also been included in the squad despite ongoing concerns about their injuries.
Cummins, who suffered an ankle injury during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, was initially expected to miss the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. However, he has been determined to make a comeback and be a part of the squad. Chair of Selectors George Bailey shared that Cummins had a scan for his injury, but they are still waiting for the results. He also mentioned that the pacer wanted to stay back at home to be with his family for the arrival of his second child.
Hazlewood, on the other hand, was sidelined from the Melbourne and Sydney Tests due to a calf injury. He was also not selected for the Sri Lanka series, but has now been included in the preliminary 15-player Champions Trophy squad. According to ICC guidelines, teams are required to name their squad by a specific date, but can make changes due to injuries at any time before the tournament begins.
The Australian squad also includes all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who was previously dropped from the fifth Test against India due to his underwhelming performance in the first four matches. Bailey expressed his confidence in the squad, stating that it is a balanced and experienced team that has been successful in previous tournaments and tours.
The team will assemble and play a one-off ODI against Sri Lanka before heading to Pakistan for the group stage matches of the ICC showpiece. The squad selection has given prominence to all-rounders, with the inclusion of Matthew Short and Aaron Hardie, while out-of-form Jake-Fraser McGurk has been left out. Spinner Adam Zampa will be the lone specialist in the squad, with support from part-timers Short and Glenn Maxwell.
Pacer Nathan Ellis, who led the Hobart Hurricanes into the Big Bash League final, has also earned a spot in the squad, along with three other changes from the previous ODI World Cup squad. David Warner has retired from international cricket, Cameron Green is recovering from a back surgery, and Sean Abbott was not considered for selection.
Australia has been placed in Group B alongside Afghanistan, England, and South Africa, and their group stage matches will be held in Lahore and Rawalpindi. The team is confident and ready to take on any challenges that may come their way, with a variety of options in their squad to adapt to different conditions and opponents.
The Australian squad for the Champions Trophy is as follows: Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa. With a strong and experienced team, the Aussies are determined to add another trophy to their collection.
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