SYDNEY — Australia has announced its 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, with Matt Short and Aaron Hardie set to make their debut in this prestigious tournament. The event is scheduled to take place next month in Pakistan and the UAE.
Short, Hardie, and Nathan Ellis are the fresh faces in a squad that recently clinched the 2023 ICC World Cup title in India. Among the notable absences is opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, particularly as the selection leans heavily towards an allrounder composition. Australia, a two-time champion of the Champions Trophy, last competed in the event in 2017, which showcases the top eight One Day International (ODI) teams globally.
The inclusion of Short, Hardie, and Ellis follows the retirement of David Warner and the withdrawal of Cameron Green, who is currently recuperating from a back injury. Additionally, Sean Abbott is also absent from the roster. Nathan Ellis was selected after leading the Hobart Hurricanes to the Big Bash League finals, while Short has shown impressive form, recently making a century for the Adelaide Strikers despite recovering from a broken toe.
Both Short and Fraser-McGurk served as traveling reserves for the Australian team during last year’s T20 World Cup, further emphasizing their readiness for international competition. The team will be led by Pat Cummins, even though chief selector George Bailey disclosed that Cummins has been managing an ankle injury sustained during the recent Border-Gavaskar test series against India. Interesting enough, while team rosters must be finalized five weeks ahead of the tournament’s start on February 19, adjustments can still be made if necessary.
Cummins will skip Australia’s upcoming test series against Sri Lanka later this month, alongside teammates Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Marsh. The lone one-day match at the end of that series will serve as Australia’s sole warm-up ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Matt Short brings additional depth to the squad with his off-spin bowling, while Hardie contributes with pace. Other allrounders in the team include Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis.
“This is a well-rounded and seasoned squad, primarily composed of players who participated in the previous one-day World Cup, the series against the West Indies, the successful UK tour last year, as well as the recent home series against Pakistan,” Bailey stated. “It provides a range of tactics for management to utilize based on opponents and the conditions expected in Pakistan.”
In the Champions Trophy, Australia has been placed in Group B alongside formidable competitors England, South Africa, and Afghanistan.
The confirmed Australian squad consists of: Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.
