Australia has announced its 15-player preliminary squad for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, headlined by the return of Pat Cummins. Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the announcement in easy words.
1. Pat Cummins Returns as Captain
Pat Cummins will lead Australia in the Champions Trophy held in Pakistan. Despite skipping the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka due to an ankle issue, his return is a major boost for the team.
2. New Faces in the Squad
Matt Short: A consistent One Day International (ODI) player since David Warner's retirement.
Aaron Hardie: An all-rounder with 11 ODI appearances for Australia.
Nathan Ellis: A skilled fast bowler known for his white-ball abilities.
These three players replace:
David Warner (retired),
Cameron Green (recovering from back surgery),
Sean Abbott.
3. Squad Highlights
Here’s the full preliminary squad:
1.Pat Cummins (Captain)
2.Alex Carey
3.Nathan Ellis
4.Aaron Hardie
5.Josh Hazlewood
6.Travis Head
7.Josh Inglis
8.Marnus Labuschagne
9.Mitchell Marsh
10.Glenn Maxwell
11.Matt Short
12.Steve Smith
13.Mitchell Starc
14.Marcus Stoinis
15.Adam Zampa
4. Versatility and Strength
All-round Talent: Matt Short and Aaron Hardie bring flexibility to adapt to different conditions.
Bowling Depth: Nathan Ellis adds strength with his ability to bowl at the start and end of innings.
Selection chair George Bailey noted, "This squad gives us plenty of options depending on opposition and Pakistan's conditions."
5. Australia's Group Stage Matches
Australia will compete in Group A and start their campaign against England:
22 February: Australia vs England, Lahore
25 February: Australia vs South Africa, Rawalpindi
28 February: Australia vs Afghanistan, Lahore
6. Aiming for Glory
Australia last won the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 2009. With a balanced team, they hope to reclaim the title in 2025.
Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament approaches!
Lets Connect