- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: Cricket Australia has announced its 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy starting on February 19.
The team includes new faces like Matt Short and Aaron Hardy, both of whom have been selected for an ICC event for the first time.
Nathan Ellis benefited from his performance in BBL
The team has been selected keeping all aspects in mind, so that there is balance in the team in the tournament being held in Pakistan and UAE. Nathan Ellis, who played an important role in taking Hobart Hurricanes to the final of BBL 14, has been given a place in the team. The trio of Short, Hardy and Ellis have replaced David Warner, Cameron Green and Sean Abbott from the team that won the ODI World Cup 14 months ago.
Warner has retired from international cricket. At the same time, Green is out of the tournament due to back surgery.
Injured Pat Cummins given captaincy
The captaincy of the team has been handed over to Pat Cummins, although there is doubt about his playing in the tournament. Cummins suffered an ankle injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cummins will also not play on the Sri Lanka tour for the birth of his second child. In his absence, Steve Smith can captain the team for the two-Test series.
Australia will play its group stage match in Pakistan
Australia will play all its group stage matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi in Pakistan. It has been placed in Group B. This group includes Afghanistan, England and South Africa.
Australia will play only one practice match before the Champions Trophy
The Australian team will play only one practice match before the tournament. Before the Champions Trophy, the Australian team is on a tour of Sri Lanka for a two-Test series and an ODI match.
The second Test against Sri Lanka will end on February 10. The only ODI match is on February 13.
