Australia and England gear up for their much-anticipated clash as they kick off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. With injuries plaguing the Australian squad, Steve Smith has stepped up to lead the team through this challenging tournament.
The absence of key players such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood leave Australia deploying a relatively inexperienced bowling lineup, pushing them to rely on younger talent. England, on the other hand, is seeking redemption after suffering back-to-back defeats, including a disheartening 0-3 series loss to India just before the tournament.
This encounter carries historical weight as it marks the beginning of another chapter of the fierce cricket rivalry between the two nations. Both teams are coming off disappointing runs, with Australia losing series to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, raising questions about their consistency since becoming world champions.
Head to head, Australia currently leads the ODI records with 90 wins out of 160 matches. Yet, recent contests have shown England lifting their game, making this match unpredictable and exciting. Jos Buttler's side, under pressure, aims to revitalize their momentum and end their winless streak from previous ODI series.
The match is set to start at 2:30 PM IST, with the toss taking place at 2 PM IST. Fans can catch the action live on Star Sports 2 HD and JioHotstar streaming platforms, as both teams vie to maintain their quest for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Australia Squad: 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.
England Squad: Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.
With both teams desperate to establish their footing early on, the stakes couldn't be higher. Fans will be eagerly watching to see which team can rise to the occasion and claim the first victory of this prestigious tournament.