Australia's Mitchell Starc opted retired of the Champions Trophy squad connected Wednesday. (Reuters)
Australia were dealt a immense stroke arsenic pacer Mitchell Starc opted retired of the forthcoming Champions Trophy successful Pakistan owed to idiosyncratic reasons, leaving the satellite champions without their ‘Big 3’ seam trio, including Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
With Cummins missing out, Australia person named Steve Smith arsenic the skipper of the rejigged 15-member broadside that besides had to measurement successful for the injured Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis who announced his status past week.
Australia volition present person to contend with an inexperienced 4th of seam bowlers successful Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis.
Selectors said Starc would besides not beryllium disposable for the 2 warmup ODIs against Sri Lanka successful Colombo, the archetypal starting aboriginal connected Wednesday.
“We recognize and respect Mitch’s decision,” selector George Bailey said successful a connection connected Wednesday.
“His nonaccomplishment is of people a stroke for the Champions Trophy run but does supply an accidental to idiosyncratic other to marque a people connected the tournament.”
Power hitter Jake Fraser-McGurk has been included successful the 15-man squad and whitethorn regenerate Marsh astatine fig 3 successful the batting, with Matt Short and Travis Head apt to open. Legspinner Tanveer Sangha has besides claimed a spot, having played the past of his 2 ODIs successful September 2023 distant to India.
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Australia Champions Trophy 2025 last squad: Steve Smith (capt), 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.