Can Australia rebound in time to win the Champions Trophy?

Australia’s national selectors have taken important steps towards refreshing and adding depth to the Test squad this summer, while maintaining a winning on-field record.

Comprehensive series wins over India and Sri Lanka have made it tough to criticise selection chairman George Bailey and his team, but attention now turns to the white-ball team, and whether enough is being done to prepare this team for its one-day international World Cup title defence in Africa in 2027.

Much to ponder: Australian captain Steve Smith has selection issues to address ahead of the Champion Trophy opener against England on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

The conveyor belt that is international cricket means there is little time to rest, for the return of the Champions Trophy after an eight-year hiatus awaits. Australia open their campaign against England on Saturday night at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, but this is a far different team than the one that stormed to victory in the World Cup final in India in 2023.

Five players from Australia’s initial 15-man Champions Trophy squad – Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis – have withdrawn because of injury, personal reasons and retirement. Four were among the XI of that famous win over India in Ahmedabad, while Stoinis was part of the squad.

While their replacements have had a taste of international cricket, four straight ODI defeats – including two heavy losses on the spinning decks of Colombo last week against a team that did not qualify for the Champions Trophy – and six defeats in their past 10 games suggests it’s going to take something special to prevail in Pakistan.

England have also lost their past four ODIs, so the opening game between these two fierce rivals will be a fascinating watch. Here’s what Australia need to do between now and then.

Settle on a batting order

David Warner’s retirement 18 months ago meant the selectors avoided having to make a tough call on one of the game’s greats, but a suitable replacement has yet to be found. Jake Fraser-McGurk, nicknamed the Rooster, wasted opportunities against Pakistan in November, and two games in Sri Lanka, where he opened in the first game, and was at No.3 in the second. For all the hype, can this Rooster (98 runs at an average of 14, strike rate 132.43, in seven ODIs) really crow? He has the backing of skipper Steve Smith, who believes the batsman-friendly pitches of Pakistan will aid the Victorian, but perhaps it’s time to temper his overly aggressive mantra, a point Australian great Adam Gilchrist made on Tuesday.

“Just bat longer, find a way to bat longer because, when he does, he is dynamite,” Gilchrist said.

Selectors are right to have batting brute Travis Head at the top of the order, but Matt Short is also a concern. He, too, failed to deliver against Pakistan in November, and had scores of 0 and 2 in Colombo.

Here’s a suggestion: Retain Head, back Short and play either the stable Alex Carey or the bruising Josh Inglis as a specialist batsman at No.3. The chosen wicketkeeper can bat lower. Inglis has been batting in the middle order.

Marnus Labuschagne missed the second ODI in Colombo after a modest Test series. Smith has endorsed his selection, but an average of 35.86 (two centuries) and a strike rate of 83.51 suggests he is a modest one-day performer.

Aaron Hardie has become the all-rounder now Stoinis and Marsh are absent, but scores of 32 and 0 in Colombo, and a career average of 16.6 with the bat after 13 ODIs, mean he needs to get busy quickly.

Glenn Maxwell made one run in his only game in Colombo. We know what Maxwell can produce. As a veteran, he now must lead the way.

There have been regular scores touching, or exceeding, 300 in Lahore recently, so a big total will most likely be needed, particularly if Australia bat first.

Then there is this to consider. Sri Lanka gave the world a blueprint in Colombo, after their spinners claimed 15 wickets across the two games, but the Pakistan decks will be more suited to fast bowling. Nine members of the Australian squad have never played ODI cricket in Pakistan, so perhaps the ball coming on to the bat will aid their hopes.

“The ball skids on probably a little bit more [in Pakistan]. So, it’s potentially better for batting, but you’ve got to rock up and assess it, and play to the conditions on the day,” Smith said.

New-look attack must deliver

Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are impossible to replace, particularly as they are still at the peak of their powers. But with this comes opportunity, and a need to instil belief in the new boys.

Time to lead: Glenn Maxwell has a key role to play with bat and ball in Pakistan. Credit: Getty Images

Nathan Ellis, as former skipper Aaron Finch says, now has the chance to be the spearhead. Sean Abbott gets his chance to be senior pro, while left-armer Spencer Johnson will hope to be the Starc clone and extract swing. Ben Dwarshuis also provides left-arm pace, and swing. Hardie also has an important role to play with the ball.

In some ways, this could be the generation-next of the Australian attack, with a view towards 2027.

Adam Zampa is a bankable leg-spinner and one of the best at his craft in white-ball cricket, while Maxwell’s off-spin is generally effective. Just how well Head and even Short go as part-time spinners will be pivotal.

Australia struggled to contain Sri Lanka in the back end of their innings, so tight bowling in the death overs will be crucial.

The verdict

Australia may not win this tournament, with bookies having India the clear favourites. But that is not the only objective here. If two or three of Australia’s newer faces can rubber-stamp their international credentials, then this tournament will have been a success with a view towards retaining white-ball cricket’s biggest prize in 2027.

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