Pat Cummins to lead Australia in ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Injured Josh Hazlewood also included in Australia’s 15-member preliminary squad.
Australia announced its preliminary 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy on Monday. Pat Cummins, who is currently on paternity leave, will miss the Sri Lanka Test tour, which begins on January 29, due to an ankle injury he suffered during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
As reported by ICC, the 31-year-old player will mark his return as captain in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, leading the Kangaroos in Pakistan. Pacer Josh Hazlewood has also been included in the squad, despite resting out half of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a back injury.
Matt Short and Aaron Hardie, the two new call-ups, have been added to Australia’s solid squad, along with speedy Nathan Ellis. These three players replace David Warner (who has retired), Cameron Green (who underwent back surgery), and Sean Abbott from the team that triumphed in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie will offer depth in batting and blowing in Pakistan. On the other side, Ellis is an effective swift who can bowl with the new ball and in death overs earned his position after an impressive Big Bash League season with the Hobart Hurricanes.
However, Jake Fraser-McGurk failed to secure a spot in the squad following his average below 18 in five matches last year. Australia will try to claim the title this year, ending the 15-year Champions Trophy drought, having previously won the title in 2009.
Read More: Bangladesh Squad for Icc Champions Trophy
Australia Preliminary squad for ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025
Pat Cummins (c), 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
