Champions Trophy: Harm-hit Australia kicks off marketing campaign in opposition to an out of kinds England

England batter Joe Root at a observe session on Friday forward of the ICC Champions Trophy match in opposition to Australia in Lahore.
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The build-up to the Champions Trophy has been removed from good for England and Australia. Whereas Australia suffered a blow with three of its high bowlers – Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc – being dominated out of the match, England is available in on the again of an ODI collection defeat to India.

Since its disastrous World Cup marketing campaign in 2023, the Jos Buttler-led England facet hasn’t received an ODI collection, and it regarded out of kinds in the course of the recently-concluded collection in opposition to India, which it misplaced 0-3.

Australia, too, misplaced its final two collection – in opposition to Sri Lanka and Pakistan – and when the 2 groups meet on the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday within the ICC occasion, they are going to be hoping to begin afresh.

“We count on a extremely powerful problem,” mentioned Buttler. “England and Australia – there’s all the time an excellent rivalry and (it will likely be) a aggressive match. Within the Champions Trophy format, every recreation is mostly a large recreation…”

England has included promising wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who has the backing of the workforce administration, and is ready to bat at No. 3. On a floor that’s prone to favour the batters, England will count on Ben Duckett to return good, whereas Joe Root would be the spine of the batting division. Within the collection in opposition to India, each Duckett and Root loved success, and they’d be hoping to maintain the momentum going.

For Australia, the onus will probably be on captain Steve Smith. Coming in at No.3, he should spearhead the batting unit, whereas Travis Head – the hero of the World Cup ultimate in 2023 – must be in his zone. With England coming in with a three-member tempo assault, comprising Jofra Archer, Mark Wooden, and Brydon Carse, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how Australia handles the strain.

The groups:

Australia (from): 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 Brief, Adam Zampa.

England (taking part in XI):  Jos Buttler (Capt.), Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wooden.