World champions Australia will rely on experience and all-round ability as they seek a third Champions Trophy title.
Pat Cummins returns for Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan next month after skipping their Sri Lanka Test tour, with injured paceman Josh Hazlewood returning to the limited-overs side.
Cummins, Australia’s Test and One Day International (ODI) captain has opted out of the upcoming series against Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second child, but has been named in the preliminary 15-man squad of the 50-year-old world champions on Monday.
Cummins carried an ankle injury through the Border-Gavaskar Test series against India.
Hazlewood was also included in the list of the two winners of the tournament after calf and side strains limited him to just two Tests against India during the summer.
As they return, openers Jake Fraser-McGurk have been dropped, paying the price for their recent poor form after opening for Australia during their most recent one-day series against Pakistan.
“This is a balanced and experienced team with the core having been involved in the previous One Day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the most recent home series in Pakistan,” said chief selector George Bailey. during the team announcement.
“It offers a variety of options for tour management, depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present themselves in Pakistan.”
All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie as well as fast bowler Nathan Ellis are the least experienced international players in the squad with less than a dozen ODIs each.
The Champions Trophy, which Australia won in 2006 and 2009, was last played in 2017.
The eight-nation trophy, between February 19 and March 9, will be played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Australia have been drawn with Afghanistan, England and South Africa for the opening group stage.
Team: Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
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2025-01-13 08:18:00
