Sydney, January 13,2025: The return of Pat Cummins headlines Australia’s preliminary 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Cummins will captain the Australian team in Pakistan, despite recently being ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test tour later this month due to an ankle injury.
The squad sees the inclusion of Matt Short and Aaron Hardie, both making their first-ever call-ups for an ICC event, while fast bowler Nathan Ellis also secures a spot. These are the three changes from the squad that triumphed in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, with David Warner retiring, Cameron Green recovering from back surgery, and Sean Abbott missing out.
Australia’s preliminary squad: 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.
Nathan Ellis earned his spot after a stellar performance in the Big Bash League with the Hobart Hurricanes, who have secured a place in the finals. All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie bring versatility to the squad, with Ellis providing effective pace, capable of opening or closing with the white ball.
Short has been a regular in Australia’s One-Day International (ODI) side since Warner’s retirement in November 2023, while Hardie has represented Australia in ODIs 11 times. “This squad offers a range of options for management, depending on the opposition and conditions in Pakistan,” said selection chair George Bailey.
Australia, the 2009 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy winners, will kick off their campaign against archrivals England in Lahore.
Australia’s Group Stage Fixtures:
Pat Cummins’ availability had been in question, as his wife Becky is expecting their second child while Australia’s Test team tours Sri Lanka in late January. Additionally, Cummins had been managing an ankle injury during the successful Border-Gavaskar Test series. Fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, sidelined during the India Test series due to a calf issue, will also return, though neither will travel to Sri Lanka.
“This squad is both balanced and experienced, with many players having participated in the last ODI World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful UK tour, and the recent series against Pakistan,” said Bailey.
Australia will be eager to end a 15-year ICC Men’s Champions Trophy drought, having previously won in 2006 and 2009.
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