Australia’s Champions Trophy 2025 title run has suffered a major blow as Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons.
Cricket Australia has confirmed that the formidable duo will be missing the ICC tournament starting next week.
With Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to respective injuries, Mitchell Marsh withdrew due to injury and Marcus Stoinis announced his ODI retirement, Australia will field a new set of players in addition to Starc pulling out of the event.
Australia’s finalised squad is finally in for the upcoming #ChampionsTrophy – with Mitch Starc the latest big name to miss
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 12, 2025
“We understand and respect Mitch’s decision. Mitch is deeply respected for his commitment to international cricket and his priority on performing for Australia.”
“His well-documented ability to play through pain and adversity, as well as forgoing opportunities in other parts of his career to put his country first, should be applauded.”
“His loss is of course a blow for the Champions Trophy campaign but does provide an opportunity to someone else to make a mark on the tournament,” said George Bailey.
Meanwhile Steve Smith will be leading the side in the tournament. “The squad has changed significantly over the past month on the back of some untimely injuries and the retirement of Marcus Stoinis.”
“The upside of that is that we have been able to call on players who have had international exposure and success over the past 12 months,” Bailey added further.
To cover for the absence fo the key players, the squad added Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, and Tanveer Sangha, while Cooper Connolly will travel as a reserve.
They will prepare for the tournament with a two match ODI series on Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka 2025 before starting their campaign against England in Pakistan on February 22.
Australia squad of Champions Trophy 2025: Steve Smith (c), 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
Traveling reserve: Cooper Connolly
