Australia’s Steve Smith speaks with Australia’s Mitchell Starc throughout a Check match between Pakistan and Australia on the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on March 25, 2022. — AFP
Australia quick bowler Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the Champions Trophy for private causes, leaving the squad with out its three frontline quicks for the ODI match in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Starc’s withdrawal comes after tempo stalwarts Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood had been dominated out because of accidents.
World champions Australia will now lean on a quartet of fringe quick bowlers – Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis – of their bid for extra ODI silverware.
Selectors mentioned Starc would additionally not be accessible for the 2 warmup ODIs towards Sri Lanka in Colombo, the primary beginning in a while Wednesday.
“We understand and respect Mitch’s decision,” selector George Bailey mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday.
“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.”
Selectors confirmed Steve Smith will lead the depleted squad in Cummins’ absence, having not too long ago captained Australia of their 2-0 sequence sweep of the Check sequence towards Sri Lanka.
Australia will even be with out injured all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and seam bowling all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who retired from ODIs in a shock final week.
Energy hitter Jake Fraser-McGurk has been included within the 15-man squad and should exchange Marsh at quantity three within the batting, with Matt Quick and Travis Head prone to open.
Legspinner Tanveer Sangha has additionally claimed a spot, having performed the final of his two ODIs in September 2023 away to India.
Australia open their Champions Trophy marketing campaign towards England in Lahore on February 22 and play additional group matches towards South Africa and Afghanistan.
Australia squad
Steve Smith (capt), 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 Quick, Adam Zampa.
