Australia face tough task in Champions Trophy

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Australia face tough task in Champions Trophy

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA’S ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY CAMPAIGN:-

WHAT IS THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY?

The tournament actually began as the ICC Knockout played in Bangladesh and Kenya in 1998 and 2000, to raise funds for cricket’s developing nations. Now, it fills the gap in the ICC four-year cycle to ensure there is a global event each year. Australia took five attempts to win the event, before lifting the trophy in 2006 and 2009.

FORMAT:

Like the last tournament in 2017 in England, there will be two groups of four with the top two from each group qualifying for the semi-finals. Australia have England, South Africa and Afghanistan in their group, where it’s entirely possible a team could be knocked out with a 2-1 record.

AUSTRALIA’S CHANCES:

It will be a tough ask for Steve Smith’s men. Injuries have ruled out Josh Hazlewood (calf), Pat Cummins (ankle) and Mitch Marsh (back), while Mitchell Starc is on personal leave. Marcus Stoinis also announced a snap retirement earlier this month. That has left Australia with their least experienced pace attack for an ICC event since the 1979 World Cup, when World Series Cricket tore the team apart.

FUTURE PROSPECTS:

The national selectors will get a real look at the next generation of *********** cricketers coming through in white-ball cricket. Aaron Hardie has been heralded as a long-term prospect and joins Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis as the quicks. All eyes will also be on Jake Fraser-McGurk when he plays, and whether he can find the right tempo to succeed in international cricket.

WHERE THE TOURNAMENT IS BEING PLAYED?

This tournament was meant to be played entirely in Pakistan, before India announced last year it would not send its team there for security reasons. India’s matches will therefore be played in the UAE, as well as the first semi-final. The final is currently listed as venue TBA, and will be moved from Lahore to Dubai if India qualify. Australia are based in Pakistan with hard-lockdown security measures.

AUSTRALIA’S SCHEDULE:-

Feb 22 vs England, Lahore

Feb 25 vs South Africa, Rawalpindi

Feb 28 vs Afghanistan, Lahore

Mar 4/5: Semi finals, Dubai/Lahore

Mar 9: Final: TBA

*********** 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 Short, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.

PREVIOUS WINNERS:

1998: South Africa

2000: New Zealand

2002: India and Sri Lanka

2004: West Indies

2006: Australia

2009: Australia

2013: India

2017: Pakistan

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