All-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh are far more formidable and relied upon with the willow these days, but the former’s surprise retirement and the latter’s back injury remove another 164 games worth of experience and know-how, as well as another 105 ODI wickets.
Ample responsibility now falls to Zampa, who excelled with 23 World Cup wickets (second only to India’s Mohammed Shami) in India 18 months ago.
Adam Zampa will lead Australia’s attack at the Champions Trophy.Credit: Getty
Pakistan’s flatter pitches promise the pain that is largely a bowler’s lot in modern one-day cricket.
At the same time Australia was crumbling to be all-out for 165 in Colombo, Pakistan recorded the highest run-chase in their history, easily mowing down a South African total of 352 in Lahore with six wickets and six balls to spare.
From the warm-up tri-series tournament between the home nation, New Zealand and South Africa, team totals of 330, 252, 304, 308, 352 and 355 point to a batsman’s paradise awaiting.
Travis Head will be back from being rested from the Sri Lankan ODIs as a formidable opening prospect in any conditions, and his return can’t come soon enough given the underwhelming returns of Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short of late.
Travis Head will make a welcome return to Australia’s batting line-up.Credit: Getty Images
Captain Steve Smith, Head, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis round out a more than competitive batting order, but Australia are likely to need all the runs they can get, and then some, given the bowling stocks at Smith’s disposal.
Perhaps the greatest hope ahead of a tournament-opening clash with England on February 23, is the English themselves.
Australia’s Champions Trophy squad
Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.
A 142-run trouncing at the hands of India has made for a seventh loss in eight outings for Jos Butler’s side going into the Champions Trophy.
Pressure is mounting as the likes of Kevin Piertesen and Ravi Shastri question training and an apparent lack of it from the English tourists, though these criticisms are dismissed when it turns out England’s preparation has been pretty similar to the Indian side belting them up and down the country.
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Opener Ben Duckett’s response to the run of losses: “This is is a massive series but the Champions Trophy is the big competition.
“If we lose 3-0 to India, I don’t care as long as we beat them in the final of the Champions Trophy. We probably won’t look back on this if we do the business in that competition.”
Duckett’s not wrong, though you’d hardly be putting your hard-earned on England as it stands. Australia can take a similarly bullish approach, but their numbers don’t make for great reading either.
