Champions Trophy 2025: Cummins, Hazlewood picked in Australia squad despite injury cloud 

by Sahil Jain
Australia ODI squad

Australia have announced their squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Pat Cummins has been included despite an injury cloud and he will lead the side. 

The Australia Test and ODI skipper’s participation for the eight-team event was in doubt due to an ankle injury. He has been rested for the two-match Test series in Sri Lanka for a couple of reasons i.e. paternity leave and to manage the ankle niggle. 

 Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a calf strain. However, he is set recover fully and has been picked in the 15-man squad

The rest of the team is on expected lines. 12 out of the 15 players were a part of the squad that lifted the 2023 World Cup in India. While there is just one specialist spinner in Adam Zampa, it is a team filled with all-rounders.  

Aaron Hardie and Matthew Short were not a part of the World Cup squad a year and a half ago but they have been around the white-ball setup for the last year or so. Nathan Ellis is the other member who was not a part of the World Cup-winning squad. He has been very impressive in both ODIs and T20Is, taking 10 and 32 wickets respectively. David Warner, Cameron Green and Sean Abbott are the players who are missing from that squad. While Warner has retired from international cricket, Green is out with a back injury. 

This team offers a variety of options: George Bailey 

George Bailey, Pat Cummins
George Bailey, Pat Cummins

Australia’s chairman of selectors is pleased with the options they have at hand. He believes the experience and variety will play a crucial role in Pakistan where Australia play all their group-stage games in the Champions Trophy.  

This is a balanced and experienced squad 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 more recent Pakistan home series. It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan,” George Bailey was quoted saying after the squad announcement. 

Australia are scheduled to play a one-off ODI in Sri Lanka before flying to Pakistan for the mega event. They are placed in Group B alongside England, South Africa and Afghanistan. Their first game of the tournament is against arch-rivals England on the 22nd of February in Lahore.  

SQUAD: Pat Cummins (captain), Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Josh Inglis (wicket-keeper), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, Aaron Hardie, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.  

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