Australia preliminary squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Pat Cummins set to lead side

Australia announced its preliminary 15-man squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy on Monday, with Pat Cummins set to lead the side.

Cummins recently confirmed he isn’t travelling to Sri Lanka with the Test side later this month due to an ankle problem.

Matt Short and Aaron Hardie got their maiden call-ups for an ICC event, while Nathan Ellis has also earned a spot. They are the three changes to the squad that won the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, replacing David Warner (retired), Cameron Green (back surgery) and Sean Abbott.

Ellis has been rewarded after his strong performance in the Big Bash League with Hobart Hurricanes, which has locked a finals berth in Australia’s domestic T20 tournament.

All-rounders Matt Short and Aaron Hardie will offer versatility in Pakistan, while Ellis is an effective quick who can open and close with the white ball.

Short has been a One Day International mainstay for the Aussies wince Warner’s retirement in November 2023, while Hardie has also represented Australia in 50-over cricket 11 times.

“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan,” said selection chair George Bailey.

Australia, which last won the Champions Trophy in 2009, will open its campaign against arch-rival England in Lahore.

There were question marks surrounding Pat Cummins’ availability.

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His wife Becky is due to give birth to the pair’s second child when Australia’s Test side tours Sri Lanka in late-January. On top of this, it was recently revealed he carried an ankle issue through his team’s successful Border-Gavaskar Test series down under.

Fellow quick Josh Hazlewood will also return to the fold, having been sidelined midway through Australia’s Test series with India due to a calf complaint. Like Cummins, Hazelwood is not travelling to Sri Lanka.

“This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series,” said Bailey.

Australia will look to end a 15-year Champions Trophy drought, after going back-to-back in 2006 and 2009.