ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Another star pacer ruled out! Australia announces Steve Smith as captain of depleted side
Australia is having a tough time ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Star pacer Mitchell Starc has opted out of the tournament due to personal reasons as the ICC World Cup 2023 winners finalised their squad for the eight-nation tournament.
With Mitchell Starc opting out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it means that Australia will be without their big three in Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who will be missing the tournament due to injuries. This means Australia will be without their key players.
Apart from the three pacers, Australia will also be without the services of two key all-rounders, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh. While the former retired from the ODIs after being named in the team for ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Marsh suffered the injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
With all the injuries in the camp, Steve Smith has been made the captain of the team. The right-hander will be leading a depleted side, and it will be a massive headache for him to lead the team in such a big tournament without match-winners in the team.
In the absence of Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood, Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis who have been named in Australia's final 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While in place of Marus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie has been added to the team.
Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has been named in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as well. While Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short are among the batters that have been added to the team. It will be a tough task for Australia in the tournament, but considering their history, one cannot write them off.
Australia squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
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.
