Two-time winners of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy, Australia will look to add another title to their trophy cabinet.
However, even before the tournament begins, the side from Down Under have been impacted by injuries to key players, with regular skipper Pat Cummins, and pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood along with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh all ruled out of the Champions Trophy.
This, along with the surprise retirement of Marcus Stoinis, has forced Australia to call-up several back-up players.
Despite all this, the Aussies still have a number of experienced campaigners to call upon in the tournament.
Veteran star Steve Smith, fresh off a Test series win in Sri Lanka, will lead them in the Champions Trophy.
Along with Smith, explosive all-rounders Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell, who played a crucial role in Australia's Cricket World Cup 2023 triumph, will also be key to their chances.
Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey and Adam Zampa are other experienced names in the outfit.
Australia’s CT 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
Group stage fixtures
February 22 – Against England, Lahore
February 25 – Against South Africa, Rawalpindi
February 28 – Against Afghanistan, Lahore
Player to watch
Travis Head
The hard-hitting Head has been instrumental to Australia’s success across formats in recent years, confirmed recently when he claimed the Allan Border Medal as the country’s most outstanding cricketer in the 2024 calendar year. He was the star performer in Australia's 2023 Cricket World Cup campaign, starring in the semi-final and final wins against South Africa and India respectively, and will be expected to play a similar role in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. The 31-year old averaged 82 in a four-match series in England in September last year, his most recent taste of white-ball cricket. Head is ranked 12th in the International Cricket Council batting rankings.
