The ICC ODI WC 2023 champions Australia are in disarray leading to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The mastermind of the triumph Pat Cummins hasn’t recovered from the ankle injury & had missed Sri Lankan tests as well. Pat Cummins‘ absence not only means that Australia are short on a bowler but a cricketer who had bring back the winning spirit back in Australian side.
Pat Cummins when he took the reins of Australian team has made Australian cricket great again. Cummins won ICC WTC 2021-23 championship, ODI WC 2023 & not to forget winning Ashes 2021-22, retaining Ashes 2023 & winning BGT 2024-25 after a decade. It won’t be wrong to say that Australian cricket got a similar version of their greatest captain Ricky Ponting in form of Pat Cummins who was ruthless & dominant.
Josh Hazlewood & Marcus Stoinis’ absence leaves a huge hole in bowling attack
Josh Hazlewood, in the recently concluded BGT 2024-25 wasn’t at his best & battled injuries and wasn’t a part of 3 Tests out of 5. Josh Hazlewood & Pat Cummins along with the lethal speedster Mitchell Starc had won ICC ODI WC 2015, ICC T20 WC 2021 & ICC ODI 2023 as they are quite a force to reckon with. It won’t be easyfor the chief selector George Bailey to find a like for like replacements for Josh Hazlewood & Pat Cummins in a high voltage ICC CT 2025.
The sudden retirement of Marcus Stoinis from ODI cricket is quite shocking given he was a part of the preliminary squad. Australia are due to play 2 ODIs against Sri Lanka before ICC CT 2025 & he was named in that squad as well. Perhaps, the injury scare at SA20 2025 league might have forced him to take that decision and also bowling 6-7 overs & maintaining the fitness in ODI cricket is tougher as compared to T20 cricket.
What lies ahead for Australia
Steven Smith is the frontrunner to lead the side in ICC CT 2025. Smith was the captain in ICC CT 2017 edition in which Aussies didn’t won a single game. The two strong contenders to replace Cummins & Hazlewood are Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson. Sean Abbott didn’t had a great last 12 months with the ball in hand but has been around the group. Spencer Johnson, the left arm speedster possesses similar traits like Starc and 2 left arm pacers with the new ball can surprise the opponent.
In the absence of Stoinis, Australia might have to play both Alex Carey & Josh Inglis in playing 11 to strengthen their batting line up. Glenn Maxwell, the flamboyant spin bowling all-rounder needs to bat a bit more responsibly given there’s no Mitchell Marsh & Cameron Green (*both are injured) & Marcus Stoinis.
The ODI WC champions have the knack of batters who can put 300 odd runs on board but not a promising bowling attack. It’s highly unlikely that Mitchell Starc will take 5 wicket haul every match & take Australia over the finish line. Aaron Hardie, the fast bowling all-rounder has got the big shoes to fill of Marcus Stoinis & had shown glimpses of in England vs Australia ODI series 2024. Jake Fraser-McGurk can get a call up to squad despite his topsy-turvy performances. Australia have to name replacements to their injured players as 12th February is the deadline to submit the original squad.
Australia preliminary squad: Pat Cummins (*injured) (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (*injured), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc (*injured), Marcus Stoinis (*retired), Adam Zampa.