England, Australia look to surmount recent ODI blip in Lahore

Given Australia and England were the winners of the last two ICC ODI events, they should be amongst the favourites this time. However, for different reasons, both these teams enter the 2025 Champions Trophy with little to no momentum. Australia suffered two crushing defeats over the last week or so in Sri Lanka that would dent any side's confidence. And if that side is already depleted with a few first-choice players missing from the tournament, there is certainly a cause for concern.

Australia have lost their last four games in the format and failed to go past 200 in any of those. That batting lineup is short on confidence and they would be glad they are kickoff their campaign at a venue that has witnessed 300-plus scores recently. While the batting unit at least contains the likes of Travis Head, stand-in skipper Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell, it's the bowling unit that will come under the scanner tomorrow and for the rest of the tournament. Since the 2016 T20 World Cup, Australia will be entering an ICC event for the first time without their first-choice pace bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. While the Aussies have won this tournament twice, recent history hasn't been kind as they failed to win even a single game in the last two editions.

At least the current world champions have injury issues to contend with. That is however not the case with England. Like Australia, their batting unit will also be glad to be playing on placid surfaces in Pakistan following the recent drubbing in India. Not to forget, England's title defence didn't go according to plan in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Even though Brendon McCullum has taken over the reins of the white-ball side only recently, he would come under the scanner alongside Jos Buttler if England endured another early exit.

England would also want to join Australia and the other elite teams as the only ones to have won all three major ICC white-ball tournaments with the Champions Trophy being the only piece of silverware that's eluding them. In order to go that far, nothing like making an early statement, especially against your arch-rivals considering the loser's chances of progressing will be dented in a short tournament such as this one.

When: Australia vs England, February 22, 2025, 2:30 PM IST

Where: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

What to expect: Both these sides will be hoping that Lahore is full of runs, like it was in the just-concluded tri-series. Weather is expected to be warm.

Team News

Australia

The makeup of Australia's bowling attack is one to watch for. Adam Zampa is their most experienced campaigner in that bowling group and he will have to lead from the front.

Probable XI: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steve Smith (C), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (WK), Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa

England

England by the looks of it will continue with their attacking brand of cricket especially after skipper Jos Buttler confirmed Jamie Smith's promotion to No.3 is a 'free hit'. Joe Root moving one spot below will also solidify that middle order that came under the pump in India.

Playing XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (WK), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (C), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

What they said

"He's obviously got the game technically and tactically, but I think the head on his shoulders seems to be one of the biggest strengths. Nothing seems to faze him too much. I think you could ask him to bat anywhere in the line-up and it wouldn't phase him." - Jos Buttler on Jamie Smith's promotion