The mighty Aussies are set to commence their campaign against England on 22nd February. Australia has been dealt with blows with injuries, retirement & players backing out of ICC CT 2025. Steven Smith has an arduous task to lead a young & inexperienced squad. Steven Smith‘s brigade was seen in tatters against the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka where they lost series by 0-2.
Australia is the only team in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy who have won editions twice back to back: 2006 & 2009. The bowling attack lacks the ‘X’ factor with the trio Cummins, Starc & Hazlewood not there. Apart from the sly leg spinner Adam Zampa, the entire bowling unit looks fragile.
Steven Smith could be someone that could be an anchor at top of order- Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting was having an interaction with ICC. Ricky Ponting pointed out that Jake Fraser-McGurk’s place in the team is in danger. Jake Fraser-McGurk averages 14 from the seven innings; his lack of footwork has been a concern. Ricky Ponting stated that Steven Smith can be a good choice as an opener and urged the selectors to consider the option who can anchor the innings.
“Yeah, he’s making it harder and harder (for selectors to stick with Fraser-McGurk). He’s not had the greatest of summers. I mean, there’s just so much talent there. There’s so much ability and skill and talent that we haven’t sort of seen consistently enough just yet. And that’s one of the big calls (selectors) are going to have to make now as well.” said Ricky Ponting.
“Do they think about opening the batting with Steven Smith, which is something that they could actually think about as well, I think, because of how well he’s done in white ball cricket when he has opened the batting. (Steven Smith) could be someone that could be an anchor through this Champions Trophy at the top of the order. And you know that with the form that he’s in, he’s going to make big runs,” he stated.
“And Jake’s the sort of player that if he does play at his best… he could win a tournament (for Australia). That’s what the Australians, I think, would be saying. The coaches would be saying that to him. We’ll see which way they decide to go at the start of the tournament.” he added.
Stern challenge awaits Australia
England was completely blanked by India in the recent ODI series by 3-0 where their weakness against spin was exposed. The surface at Lahore is expected to be a run fest where both Australia & England have a lot of pinch hitters present in the side. England though holds a slight edge over Australia given that Jofra Archer & Mark Wood can dismantle the Australian batting unit even on a flat deck with sheer pace & impeccable bowling.
The 10 overs of Adam Zampa would be match-defining. Australia though would back themselves that they can outclass England given they had won the ODI series against their arch-rivals by 3-2 but the squad had a huge amount of experience in it with the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc & Josh Hazlewood. In the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, England had decimated a star-studded Australian team.