The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has begun with a bang as Pakistan were defeated by New Zealand by a margin of 60 runs. One of the teams who will be the last to start their campaign in the tournament is Australia. Whenever there is an ICC trophy on the line, Australia are the team that everyone should be wary about. They have won the Champions Trophy twice, and will be looking to become the first team ever to win the tournament three times, even though the side is riddled with injuries, and missing some key players.

Strengths: Australia have a formidable batting order, that can be considered one of the best in tournament. Travis Head, the dangerous in-form batter will open the innings. In the middle order they possess the likes of Steve Smith and Marnu Labuschagne who can solidify the innings, with players like Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey and Josh Inglis who can go all guns blazing.

Australia have one of the best spinners in world cricket right now in the form of Adam Zampa and he will prove to be a handy customer on the tracks in Pakistan.

Weaknesses: Australia's pace attack has been completely depleted due to injuries. Their superstar pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc ad Josh Hazlewood have all been ruled out. In their absence, the pace department boasts of inexperienced names like Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarsius. They also do not have a spinner to partner Adam Zampa. With the absence of Mitchell Mash who is injured, and the recently retired Marcus Stoinis, they also lack an experienced pace-bowling all-rounder.

Opportunities: Australia have the opportunity to groom a completely new generation of players in he ODI format, and there is no better leader to do so than Steve Smith who is captaining the side. Smith will also have the opportunity to prove his captaincy skills if he can lead the inexperienced Australian side.

Threats: Australia's side is pretty inexperienced and do not have the knowhow to do well especially in touch sitatuions in a world-level tournament. The side is also quite injury prone.

Predicted Playing XI

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

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