Australia team for Champions Trophy: Australia has announced its 15-player squad for the Champions Trophy starting next month. All-rounders have been given priority in this team. In which two players have been selected for this tournament for the first time. Match Short and Aaron Hardy have been included in the team. Two-time champions Australia will be vying for another ICC trophy under the captaincy of Pat Cummins in the Champions League starting on February 19. Under the captaincy of Cummins, Australia won the ODI World Cup and Test Championship.
Joining new players in the team
Jack Fraser McGurk is seen as the future of Australia. But his name is not in this team. He is currently struggling with poor form. Apart from this, Nathan Ellis has returned to the team. Compared to the Australian team that won the ODI World Cup in the year 2023, three changes have been made in the team this time. David Warner, Cameron Green and Sean Abbott are not part of this team. Warner has retired from cricket. Cameron Green is currently injured and Abbott has not got a place in the team. All three have been replaced by Matt, Hardy and Nathan Ellis.
Will Pat Cummins play in the Champions Trophy?
Pat Cummins has been given the command of the team. But there is doubt about his performance in the tournament. Announcing the squad, chief selector George Bailey said he was struggling with a knee problem. In such a situation, there is doubt whether he will be able to play in the Champions Trophy or not. According to ICC rules, all eight teams for the Champions Trophy had to announce their squads five months before the start of the tournament. However, teams can make changes up to a week before the start of the tournament. After this, if any other team wants to make changes then it will have to take approval from the ICC. The Australian team has been placed in Group B along with Afghanistan, England and South Africa.
Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh have returned to the team.
Josh Hazlewood, who was injured while playing against India in the recently played Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has returned to the team. Mitchell Marsh has also been selected in the team. Australia will play its first match in the Champions Trophy against England on 22 February in Lahore. Before this, this team will also play an ODI match against Sri Lanka.
Australian team for Champions Trophy: Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardy, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Group A – Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh
Group B – South Africa, Australia, Afghanistan, England
