Tag: australia

DUBAI: Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the 1st Semi-Final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Playing XIs

Australia: Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The ongoing 2025 edition marked the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The tournament began with the teams divided into two groups. Group A featured Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B included Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

Each team played three group-stage matches, and the top two from each group secured a spot in the semi-finals. From Group A, India and New Zealand advanced, while South Africa and Australia progressed from Group B.

READ: Mohammad Amir questions Mohammad Rizwan’s decision-making capability

Australia could be forced into a top-order reshuffle for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final after Matthew Short sustained a quad injury during the clash against Afghanistan.

The injury, picked up late in Afghanistan’s innings, is expected to rule him out of the knockout fixture.

Despite opening the batting alongside Travis Head, Short visibly struggled between the wickets, restricting himself mostly to boundary hitting.

He managed 20 off 15 balls in a solid 44-run stand in 4.3 overs before being caught at mid-on.

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Speaking after the match, captain Steven Smith admitted that Short’s recovery in time for the semi-final seems unlikely.

“I think he’ll be struggling,” Smith said. “We saw tonight he wasn’t moving very well. It’s probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover.”

With Short’s likely absence, Jake Fraser-McGurk—who replaced the injured Mitchell Marsh in the squad—becomes the most straightforward replacement at the top of the order.

However, Australia could also consider a batting reshuffle, bringing in all-rounder Aaron Hardie as an alternative.

“We’ve got a few guys there to come in, and we’ll be able to fill a job,” Smith added.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Another option for Australia could be left-handed batter and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly, a travelling reserve who might be officially added to the squad if Matthew Short is ruled out of the tournament.

Beyond his batting, Short’s absence would be a blow to Australia’s spin-bowling depth. He had delivered a tidy spell against Afghanistan, conceding just 21 runs in seven overs.

However, the Aussies still have part-time spin options in Head and Marnus Labuschagne, the latter having taken two wickets against England but not used in the last game.

With a semi-final spot secured in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australia will now have to weigh their options and make a call on the best possible XI for the knockout clash.

READ: Nasser Hussain names Jos Buttler’s replacement as England’s captaincy

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has opened up on the reasons behind his decision to skip the ongoing ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.

The star pacer was named in Australia’s preliminary squad for the eight-team tournament, however, he later withdrew his name at the eleventh hour, citing personal reasons.

“We understand and respect Mitch’s [Mitchell Starc] decision,” chair of selectors George Bailey said. “Mitch is deeply respected for his commitment to international cricket and the priority he places on performing for Australia.”

Recently, Starc, during an appearance on the Willow Talk podcast in Australia, revealed that the main reason behind his absence was to take a rest and keep his body fit for the ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa in June.

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“There are a few different reasons, some personal views,” Starc said. “I had a bit of ankle pain through the Test series, so I just need to get that one right.”

“Obviously, we have the Test final coming up and a West Indies tour after that. There is some IPL cricket as well.

“But the main one at the top of my mind is the Test final. Get my body right, play some cricket in the next couple of months and then be ready to go for the Test final.”

For the unversed, Australia entered the Champions Trophy without their pace trio, as captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

However, despite their absence, Australia kicked off their campaign with a thrilling victory against arch-rivals England.

Meanwhile, their match against South Africa was abandoned due to rain in Rawalpindi.

They will next face Afghanistan in their last group stage match on February 28 at Lahore’s Gadaffi Stadium.

Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025

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.

READ: Mohammad Amir compares Virat Kohli with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi

The much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi has been hit by rain, delaying the toss that was originally scheduled for 1:30 PM today.

With showers expected to continue in intervals throughout the day, the weather is likely to play a role in the contest.

As per the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Rawalpindi is in for a cloudy and cool day, with intermittent afternoon showers keeping the conditions tricky.

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The forecast suggests a 64% chance of rain, with approximately 0.10 inches of precipitation expected over a two-hour period.

While thunderstorms are not on the radar, complete cloud cover (100%) is expected. For now, the ground staff have the pitch well covered as they wait for a window of clear skies.

Australia and South Africa teams come into this game riding high on momentum, having secured wins in their opening matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Australia started their campaign with a stunning chase against England at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. England had set a record-breaking Champions Trophy total of 351/8, powered by Ben Duckett’s incredible 165 off 143 balls.

However, the Aussies responded in a dominant fashion, hunting down the target in 47.3 overs with Josh Inglis smashing a blistering 120 off 86.

South Africa, on the other hand, made a strong statement with a 107-run win over Afghanistan. The Proteas racked up 315/6, thanks to a well-constructed century from Ryan Rickelton.

Captain Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram chipped in with crucial fifties, setting up a dominant total before bowling out Afghanistan for 208.

READ: Shoaib Akhtar calls Babar Azam ‘fraud’ after Champions Trophy elimination

Playing XIs

Australia: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

England: Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

The 2025 edition marks the return of the ICC Champions Trophy after an eight-year break, with the last tournament being held in 2017, where Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals India in the final.

The eight-team tournament will feature 15 matches over 19 days, taking place in Pakistan and Dubai.

The teams are divided into two groups for the initial stage. Each team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

Group A consists of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, while Group B includes Afghanistan, England, Australia, and South Africa.

READ: Shane Watson names THIS player to shine at Champions Trophy

Former all-rounder Shane Watson has named Glenn Maxwell as the stand-out player for Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Watson has backed the explosive batter to shine in the marquee event following his brilliant form in the Big Bash League this season.

“The stand-out player for me is Glenn Maxwell,” Watson wrote in his recent ICC column.

“With what I have seen recently, especially in the Big Bash, I believe he has some of his best cricket in front of him across the next two or three years, and I would be very surprised if he does not dominate this Champions Trophy,” said the event Ambassador.

He also mentioned his incredible innings against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023, where he smashed a breathtaking double-century.

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“He had that incredible innings against Afghanistan in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, where he scored a double century, but he has struggled to be consistent at times. That’s the nature of his role in the team.

“However, it now just feels like it has all fallen into place for him, and that’s with everything in his life, not just his cricket, so I think he will play a pivotal part,” Watson added.

With key Australian players not part of the team for the Champions Trophy, Watson still believes that the Aussies will be a team to beat.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

“I think Australia will be very hard to beat, even if their bowling squad is not quite as experienced as they might otherwise have been,” remarked Watson.

Glenn Maxwell was also pivotal to Australia’s Cricket World Cup triumph in 2023, finishing with 400 runs from nine games.

For the unaware, Australia will be without their pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. They will play their first match of the eight-nation tournament against England tomorrow at Lahore’s newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium.

READ: Former Australian great predicts winner of Pakistan-India Champions Trophy clash

LAHORE: The Australia cricket team has arrived in Pakistan in two groups to participate in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to commence on 19 February.

The first group, featuring head coach, captain Steve Smith and support staff, reached Lahore from Colombo via Dubai.

Soon after, the second group, consisting of 15 players, including the likes of Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Matthew Short, and Adam Zampa, along with two additional staff members, also landed in Lahore.

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It’s worth noting that the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Meanwhile, Australia will begin their campaign against arch-rivals England on February 22 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Their second match is scheduled for February 25 against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, while the Aussies will play their final group stage match against Afghanistan on February 28 in Lahore.

Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025

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.

READ: Shahid Afridi predicts leading wicket-taker for India-Pakistan Champions Trophy clash

Australia suffered a major blow to their preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as their star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis left fans shocked with his immediate retirement from the ODI format just before the mega-event.

Stoinis announced his decision on Thursday morning, leaving Australia without another all-rounder following the injury of Mitchell Marsh which ruled him out of the upcoming tournament.

“Playing ODI cricket for Australia has been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for every moment I’ve had in the green and gold,” Stoinis said in a statement.

“Representing my country at the highest level is something I’ll always cherish.

“This wasn’t an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right time for me to step away from ODIs and fully focus on the next chapter of my career.

“I’ve got a fantastic relationship with Ron [Andrew McDonald] and I’ve hugely appreciated his support.”

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He concluded his statement by expressing support for the Australia cricket team, which is set to depart for Pakistan to participate in the Champions Trophy 2025.

“I’ll be cheering the boys on in Pakistan,” he said.

Marcus Stoinis was a member of the 2023 ODI World Cup-winning squad and played a crucial role with the ball against Pakistan, helping Australia recover from a poor start in the tournament ultimately leading them to victory.

However, he played only one more ODI after the World Cup, which was also against Pakistan earlier this season.

Last year, he did not receive a contract from Cricket Australia (CA), but he was expected to play a key role in the Champions Trophy due to the injury of Cameron Green and Marsh.

The retirement of Marcus Stoinis has presented another challenge for the Australian team management.

They will need to make several adjustments to their Champions Trophy squad, as Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out due to a back injury. Additionally, captain Pat Cummins is unlikely to participate, along with fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

READ: Aqib Javed defends Faheem, Khushdil’s selection in Champions Trophy squad

Australia is facing a major setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with captain Pat Cummins likely to miss the tournament due to an ongoing ankle injury.

Cummins, who has been struggling with the issue since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, has yet to resume bowling, putting his participation in serious doubt.

Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that while Australia’s ODI squad is set to depart for Sri Lanka on Thursday, Cummins is “heavily unlikely” to be part of the touring party.

His absence means the team will need a new captain, with Steve Smith and Travis Head emerging as the frontrunners for the leadership role.

“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling, so he’s heavily unlikely. That means we do need a captain,” McDonald said.

“Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two we’ve been having conversations with while building out the Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They’re the obvious choices for the leadership role.”

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It’s worth noting that Pat Cummins isn’t the only fitness concern for Australia ahead of the Champions Trophy as fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also battling an injury, dealing with a hip issue that kept him out of part of the Test series against India.

Hazlewood’s availability for the Champions Trophy remains uncertain, with further medical updates expected in the coming days.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has already been ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury.

He is unlikely to feature in the remainder of the domestic season, though there is still a possibility that he could return for the IPL, where he plays for the Lucknow Super Giants.

With Marsh sidelined, selectors are weighing up their options for his replacement. Uncapped ODI player Beau Webster is in contention while seam-bowling all-rounders Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis are already in the squad but carrying their own injury concerns.

In Cummins and Hazlewood’s absence, Sean Abbott is expected to be recalled to the ODI squad of Australia after missing out on the initial Champions Trophy selection.

READ: New Zealand squad arrives in Lahore for tri-nation ODI series

Star Australia pacer Mitchell Starc has made a shocking revelation regarding his future in the Big Bash League (BBL).

The veteran bowler is a regular feature in the Australia red-ball and white-ball squads, however, he last played for Sydney Sixers way back in the BBL  2014-15 season.

While talking about his return to the Big Bash the Southpaw mentioned a busy Australian summer schedule.

“I don’t know, to be honest. As long as the Australian summer is the way it is, where we have two weeks (off), not even – we had 10 days this year,” he told an Australian media outlet.

“If that’s how it is, probably not. If I retire from something, perhaps. Who knows?” Starc revealed.

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It is worth noting here that Mitchell Starc featured in 10 games for Sydney Sixers before he took a break from the Big Bash League.

Reflecting on his memories while playing for the Sixers, the Australian pacer said that he enjoyed playing for the team.

“It’s hard to miss games to try and protect yourself. There’s always risk playing cricket, that’s never going to change. For me, I just want to keep enjoying playing as much cricket as I can. I really enjoy the BBL with Sydney,” he concluded.

For the unversed, Mitchell Starc’s last appearance in franchise cricket came in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after missing several seasons.

Earlier, his compatriot Travis Head had shared that he would only play the IPL and the BBL alongside his national duty.

“I won’t play franchise cricket other than IPL. Big Bash will be the third team I play for, so I won’t play anything other than that at this stage,” said explosive batter in an interview last year.

“I think that gives me the opportunity to have that time off,” Head concluded.

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