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England and an injury-hit Australia will begin their Champions Trophy marketing campaign in an evenly-matched Group B contest. Each groups have struggled just lately in ODIs.
Australia tackle England to open their respective campaigns within the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. (Picture: AFP)
An off-colour England and an injury-hit Australia might be keen to start out their Champions Trophy marketing campaign on a profitable observe in what looks like an evenly-matched Group B contest between the Ashes rivals right here on Saturday.
Each groups have struggled within the ODI format just lately, with world champions Australia shedding to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) of their final two rubbers.
England, who are actually coached by Brendon McCullum in all codecs, haven’t received an ODI collection since their disastrous 2023 World Cup marketing campaign.
The Jos Buttler-led facet is coming off a 0-3 drubbing by India, the place they appeared out of types and didn’t match as much as the hosts.
Each groups might be desperate to make their mark on this ICC showpiece occasion.
Australia had the higher hand in opposition to their Ashes rivals the final time they confronted off in England, profitable a five-match collection 3-2 in September final yr.
Nonetheless, a lot has modified since then, with the world champions lacking 5 key gamers from their preliminary squad.
Their tempo assault might be notably affected, as they are going to be with out their famed trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, all dominated out of the match.
They will even be with out all-rounders Mitchell Marsh (again damage), Cameron Inexperienced (damage) and Marcus Stoinis, who has made a shock retirement from the format after that includes within the preliminary squad for the match.
In such a situation, it stays to be seen whether or not Australia, underneath stand-in skipper Steve Smith, can replicate their previous success in what’s also known as a ‘mini’ World Cup.
With Marsh absent, Smith is prone to are available at No. 3 and can carry the batting workload for a facet that received this match consecutively in 2006 and 2009.
All eyes might be on explosive white-ball opener Travis Head, who had scores of 101 and 89 at this very venue throughout their 2022 collection.
Head additionally smashed a career-best 154 not out at Trent Bridge in opposition to England in final yr’s collection, making him a big risk.
As a doable counter-strategy, England have named a three-pronged tempo assault that includes Jofra Archer, Mark Wooden, and Brydon Carse, supplemented by the spin of Adil Rashid.
“They’re just about all-out quick bowling with Adil (Rashid, the leg-spinner) being their banker – he’s prime quality, and doesn’t go underrated on this room – however there’s a lot pleasure round Wooden, Jofra, Carse and (Gus) Atkinson,” head informed ‘cricket.com.au’.
“We’re going to have to verify we begin effectively in opposition to them. As a gap batter, how I can counteract that and the way I play in opposition to that may be a nice problem.”
England have additionally included rising wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who’s prone to bat at No. 3.
With the wicket anticipated to favour batting, Ben Duckett, who seemed in explosive type in opposition to India, will look to supply a robust begin, whereas Joe Root would be the batting spine.
Root, who was England’s second-leading run-getter behind Duckett within the India collection, will look to make a big affect right here.
England, looking for their maiden Champions Trophy title, are selecting to not dwell on their current struggles in India.
“No matter what occurred in India, we’ve received that perception that we’ve received the expertise, we’ve received the world-class gamers, the match-winners within the squad to win the match,” Rashid mentioned.
Groups (from)
Australia: 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 Quick, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.
England XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wooden.
Match begins: 2.30PM IST.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)
- Location :
Karachi, Pakistan