Starc Out, Smith to lead as Aussie’s lock in Champions Trophy Squad

Australia’s bid to lift the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time since 2009 will be released with any brand new look-bowling-line-up after Mitchell Starc retired from this month’s tournament in Pakistan and UAE for personal reasons.

Starc, who was the only member of Australia’s ‘Big Three’ Fast Bowling attack to play all seven samples against India and Sri Lanka across the current summer, joins Captain Pat Cummins (Ankle) and scholarship Quick Josh Hazlewood at the sidelines for the upcoming event.

This means that Australia, which will become captain of the tournament of Steve Smith, will miss all three front-line-up bowlers from the clothes that led them to the 50-over World Cup in India just over a year ago, as well as injured all-rounders Mitchell Marsh (back) and Marcus Stoinis, who suddenly ends the ODD crick last week.

Australia Champions Trophy Squad: Steve Smith (C), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuscagn, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Travel Reserve: Cooper Connolly.

Starc, who will not comment on his decision and has asked for privacy, seemed to be in discomfort with a left ankle question in bowling only four overs during Sri Lanka’s second round of last week’s last test on Galle.

It is understood that he returned to Australia in the immediate demand for this game, which means he will also miss the two-match Odi series against Sri Lanka, which started in Colombo today.

While the reasons for Starc’s withdrawal remain private, Cricket Australia has expressed their full support for the 35-year-old, which is at CUSP of 100 test performance (currently 96) and 400 testwickets (now 382).

“We understand and respect Mitch’s decision,” said National Selection Panel George Bailey today.

“Mitch is deeply respected for his commitment to international cricket and the priority he puts on to act for Australia.

“His well -documented ability to play through pain and adversity, as well as in -house opportunities in other parts of his career to put his country first clapped.

“Of course, his loss is a blow to the Master’s trophy campaign, but gives one opportunity for someone else to make a mark on the tournament.”

The loss of the high profiled Tempo trio has opened the door to the next generation quick spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis, named in Australia’s last 15-man team to Champions Trophy.

Johnson has played two ODIs and eight T20 international and is seen as a similar-to-like replacement for Starc as a real left arm fast.

Ellis was a member of Australia’s team for last year’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States and has previous experience in Pakistan, which has debuted on the ODD tour there in 2022.

Abbott was also part of the Pakistan ODD campaign and has been uncovered 26 times in ODIs including a game under Australia’s Triumphan 2023 World Cup campaign in India.

A tempo bowler with similar all-round skills such as Abbott, Dwarshuis’ only former Ody for Australia came against England at Trent Bridge during last year’s White-Ball tour in the UK.

Aaron Hardie takes over Stoinis’ role as Seam-Bowling Allrounder and Middle Order hits, though the pitch conditions probably mean that Glenn Maxwell’s off-spin will play an equally important all-round role to supplement head spinner Adam Zampa.

Emerging Leg-Spinner Tanveer Sangha is included in the 15-player troop after arriving in Sri Lanka earlier this month to attend the test tournament party as a development player.

And the 21-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly has been named the travel serve, which further added his meteoric increase less than a week after he won his Virgin Baggy Green Cap in the second test at Galle.

While newly crowned Allan Border Medalist Travis Head is expected to open with Matt Short or possibly Josh Inglis, the inclusion of Jake Fraser-McGurk means that Australia will have plenty of fire options at the top of the order.

Fraser-McGurk played the latest of its five ODDs for Australia against Pakistan in Perth last November and recorded scores of 16, 13 and seven in the three-match series won by the Touring Team.

The 22-year-old also failed to pass 20 in the subsequent T20i campaign for three games against Pakistan, but exploded into form in the last match of BBL | 14 season with 95 from 46 balls facing Melbourne Renegades.

“The team has changed significantly over the past month on the back of some untimely injuries and the retirement of Marcus Stoinis,” Bailey said today.

“Upside of it is that we have been able to encourage players who have had international exposure and success over the past 12 months.

“A strong core of some of our most experienced players will provide a strong foundation in our attempt to win this edition of Champions Trophy.

“We have a number of options to shape the game XI within the tournament depending on the opposition and conditions we are facing.”

Test fights against Smith, Marnus Labuscagn and Alex Carey have all been named in the troop, with Carey a chance to play as specialized dough (if Inglis takes team gloves) into consideration.

In Cummins’ absence, Smith has been named Captain, who has skipped and been appointed the player in the series-I Australia’s recent 2-0 test series defeat by Sri Lanka.

Smith will also lead ODI-LINE-UP in this week’s couple of 50-over matches against Sri Lanka in Colombo, which effectively acts as heating fixtures ahead of Champions Trophy, where Australia begins their campaign against England in Lahore on February 22.

Australia has twice lifted Champions Trophy in 2006 and 2009, when the tournament was last held in 2017 in the UK, where Pakistan defeated India in the final of Oval.

2025 ICC MEN’s Champions Trophy

Australia’s Group B

22 February: Australia against England, Lahore (20:00 AEDT)

25th February: Australia against South Africa, Rawalpindi (20:00 AEDT)

February 28: Afghanistan against Australia, Lahore (20:00 AEDT)

4th March: SemiFinal 1, Dubai (20:00 AEDT)

5. March: SemiFinal 2, Lahore (20:00 AEDT)

9. March: Final, Lahore or Dubai (20:00 AEDT)

Australia’s team: Steve Smith (C), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuscagn, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Travel Reserve: Cooper Connolly.