Forward of the ICC Champions Trophy – dwell on Sky Sports activities from February 19 to March 9 – we take a look at the perimeters in Group B: England, Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan.
England
by Adam Williams
Finest end result: Runners-up (2004, 2013)
2017 end result: Semi-finalists
Head coach: Brendon McCullum
Squad: Jos Buttler (captain), 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 Wooden.
Bowler to observe
Adil Rashid. Doubtlessly the ultimate furlong for England’s main white-ball spinner of his technology as he eyes up the prospect of taking part in a pivotal function on turning pitches in Pakistan.
Arguably the primary identify on the teamsheet, Rashid shall be eager so as to add one other ICC winners’ medal to his assortment after taking part in key roles within the 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup.
England’s Adil Rashid might be key to his facet’s hopes within the Champions Trophy
Batter to observe
Harry Brook. On his final journey to Pakistan in England colors, the Yorkshireman clocked up a Check triple hundred. Sadly England won’t be returning to Multan this time round, however Brook shall be eager to proceed his glorious report within the nation. He’ll hope to undergo the gears and up the run-rate when required.
Prospects
Hopefully a greater return than their final expertise in an ICC 50-over competitors within the subcontinent: the 2023 World Cup in India.
England’s defence of that title fell effectively wanting expectations and included a humiliating group-stage defeat to Afghanistan, who they’ll face amid political controversy between powerful assessments in opposition to Australia and South Africa.
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Richard Gould believes England boycotting their ICC Champions Trophy recreation in opposition to Afghanistan could be ‘counterproductive’
Being on the receiving finish of a collection clear sweep in India within the build-up, the place a scarcity of cohesion and a transparent plan had been evident, could have accomplished little to lift expectations. However, as ever with Bazball, count on the surprising.
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs Australia (Saturday February 22)
vs Afghanistan (Wednesday February 26)
vs South Africa (Saturday March 1)
Australia
By David Ruse
Finest end result: Winners (2006, 2009)
2017 end result: Knocked out in group stage
Head coach: Andrew McDonald
Squad: Steve Smith (captain), 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. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.
Australia’s Adam Zampa will shoulder a number of the burden within the bowling assault with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood out
Bowler to observe
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa. One) as a result of he is good and two) as a result of seam stalwarts Pat Cummins (injured), Josh Hazlewood (injured) and Mitchell Starc (private causes) are out, depriving the workforce of your entire tempo assault that gained the 2023 World Cup.
Zampa bagged 23 wickets over the course of that match and should should be prolific once more with Australia’s seam choices gifted – Nathan Ellis, for one, has loads of tips – however inexperienced in ODIs.
Batter to observe
Travis Head scored the match-winning hundred within the World Cup ultimate in opposition to India and Australia will search for him to go massive on the prime of the order, however Steve Smith ought to be the glue that holds every part collectively.
Australia’s Steve Smith would be the anchor within the center order
Smith has returned to peak type in Check cricket after a lean spell, peeling off 4 tons in 5 video games, whereas he additionally smoked a Massive Bash ton for Sydney Sixers. Completely different codecs, positive, however his class ought to inform once more.
Prospects
Australia are so good at successful world tournaments however this one may be a stretch with so many big-name absentees, together with Cameron Inexperienced (injured), Mitchell Marsh (injured) and Marcus Stoinis (retired).
Latest convincing defeats to a Sri Lanka facet that didn’t even qualify for the Champions Trophy will hardly breed confidence. Nonetheless with Smith, Head and Zampa round, to not point out Glenn Maxwell – damaging with the bat, succesful with the ball, gorgeous within the discipline – it will be silly to put in writing them off.
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Did we see the catch of the 12 months on the primary day of January? Watch Glenn Maxwell take this gorgeous boundary catch within the Massive Bash League
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs England (Saturday February 22)
vs South Africa (Tuesday February 25)
vs Afghanistan (Friday February 28)
Afghanistan
by Adam Williams
Finest end result: Match debut
2017 end result: N/A
Head coach: Jonathan Trott
Squad: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran. Reserves: Darwish Rasooli, Bilal Sami.
Bowler to observe
Rashid Khan. For somebody who has already crammed a lot into his worldwide and globetrotting T20 franchise profession, it’s unimaginable to see the leg-spinner continues to be solely 26.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan shouldn’t be solely a menace with the ball
A talismanic chief with the ball who will tackle a extra outstanding function within the absence of fellow spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was omitted from this squad. Can take the brand new ball in addition to play a component later in an innings and likewise has a knack of contributing quickfire runs down the order with the bat.
Batter to observe
Sediqullah Atal. A left-handed opener on the rise who has additionally not too long ago featured for MI Cape City within the SA20.
Contributed a ton and a half-century in an ODI collection victory over Zimbabwe in December to ebook his place on this squad. Set to open the batting alongside Ibrahim Zadran, who returned from an ankle harm late final 12 months.
Prospects
Greater than able to springing a shock (or two!) they usually have an out of doors likelihood of reaching the semi-finals, as they did ultimately 12 months’s T20 World Cup within the West Indies.
Afghanistan reached the semi-finals of final 12 months’s T20 World Cup
Pakistan legend Younis Khan has been appointed as a mentor and will provide some invaluable perception on situations and recreation administration for a facet who can typically let good alternatives slip because of one-off errors or lapses in focus.
Will hope to not be on the receiving finish of one other Maxwell masterclass after they face Australia after the right-hander’s astonishing 201 not out off 128 balls secured a surprising group-stage victory on the 2023 World Cup.
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs South Africa (Friday February 21)
vs England (Wednesday February 26)
vs Australia (Friday February 28)
South Africa
By David Ruse
Finest end result: Winners (1998)
2017 end result: Knocked out in group stage
Head coach: Rob Walter
Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen. Travelling reserve: Kwena Maphaka.
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada is a part of a well-rounded bowling assault
Bowler to observe
South Africa have a balanced assault with each base seemingly coated, however Kagiso Rabada is the chief of the tempo unit, boasting 162 wickets throughout his 103 ODIs to this point.
Rabada is recent off a four-wicket efficiency within the SA20 ultimate for MI Cape City, when he bought the higher of Proteas pal Marco Jansen, who was taking part in for Sunrisers Jap Cape.
Nonetheless, Jansen completed that match as main wicket-taker with 19 victims in 13 matches and his left-arm seam from a towering peak may trigger opponents oodles of issues within the Champions Trophy – and so, too, his decrease center order hitting.
Batter to observe
Heinrich Klaasen. If Klaasen and Jansen dovetail with the bat over the following few weeks, then look out! These two give the ball an almighty clout with Klaasen scoring half-centuries in every of his final 4 ODIs, together with 87 from 56 balls in opposition to Pakistan in Karachi final week, an innings that included 11 fours and three sixes.
South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen is a potent drive in South Africa’s center order
He has additionally notched fifty-plus scores in his earlier two ODIs in opposition to England, most not too long ago in October 2023 when he belted 109 from 67 balls within the World Cup group-stage win in Mumbai. England skipper Buttler made the weird choice to bowl first in excessive warmth and a red-hot Klaasen cashed in.
Prospects
Regardless of an terrible lot of firepower, South Africa’s current run in ODI cricket has been, effectively, terrible. Six defeats on the trot and 16 losses in 25 since reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2023.
The caveat is that the Proteas have been unable to discipline full-strength sides because of different cricketing commitments.
Their squad is stacked as soon as once more now, although, and contemplating they play a depleted Australia, a hideously out-of-form England and an Afghanistan facet they demolished in final 12 months’s T20 World Cup semi-final, South Africa will count on to succeed in the final 4 right here.
Fixtures (all 9am UK and Eire)
vs Afghanistan (Friday February 21)
vs Australia (Tuesday February 25)
vs England (Saturday March 1)
Watch each match from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy dwell on Sky Sports activities between February 19 and March 9 or stream with NOW.
