3 takeaways from Australia's preliminary squad for Champions Trophy 2025 ft. Pat Cummins' selection despite injury concerns

Australia have announced a 15-member preliminary squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. They are placed in Group B alongside England, Afghanistan, and South Africa.

Australia will begin their campaign against England on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. They will be confident coming into the tournament, having performed well in the subcontinental conditions in the recent past. The Men in Yellow won the ICC Men's ODI World Cup in India in 2023.

They also won the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2023 and have a solid record in ICC tournaments over the last few years. Australia will be keen to replicate their success from the ODI World Cup, as they look to extend their dominance.

They made some surprising and interesting selections in their preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. That said, let us look at the three major takeaways from their squad announcement for the upcoming ICC event.

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#3 Pat Cummins' selection despite injury concerns

Australia have announced all-rounder Pat Cummins as the captain of their squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. His inclusion, along with being named captain, comes as a bit of a surprise.

Cummins, who led them to a 3-1 win in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test series, is nursing an ankle injury. His participation in the upcoming ICC tournament is doubtful and his being picked despite no guarantee, that too as captain, is slightly surprising.

Further, pacer Josh Hazlewood, who missed a major part of the BGT 2024-25 series due to injury, has also been named in the squad. Hazlewood is carrying a calf injury and is also doubtful for the tournament.

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#2 Majority of the 2023 World Cup core being present

Notably, Australia's squad for the Champions Trophy comprises a majority of their core from their successful 2023 World Cup campaign, with an emphasis on balance and experience.

Cummins, who led them to victory in the 2023 World Cup, is expected to lead here as well, should he be fit in time. The squad comprises players like Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, and Josh Inglis, who were all a part of the World Cup squad.

The squad also includes some inexperienced yet exciting players like Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, and Matthew Short. Marcus Stoinis, despite not being in top form, has returned to the squad as Cameron Green is away.

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#1 Lone specialist spinner in Adam Zampa

Given that the tournament will be played in Pakistan and Dubai, it is surprising that Australia have chosen to go with just one specialist spinner in Adam Zampa. The conditions in Pakistan traditionally offer more assistance to spinners.

That said, having just one frontline spinner in the squad comes as a bit of a surprise. However, the defending World Cup champions have filled the squad with plenty of spin bowling options to fill in alongside Zampa.

The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Matthew Short, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith can all chip in with overs of spin as and when needed.

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Australia's preliminary squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Pat Cummins (C), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa