Group B action in the Champions Trophy is underway, with the highly anticipated clash between fierce rivals Australia (AUS) and England (ENG) scheduled for Saturday, February 22, at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. This matchup promises to be one of the tournament’s standout encounters.

Australia vs England: Match Preview

Could you believe it? Not only have Australia and England been placed in the same group for a global tournament, but their Champions Trophy campaigns will kick off against each other. ICC’s sense of drama strikes again! Beneath the predictable commercial appeal lies undeniable anticipation. This clash features two arch-rivals at contrasting junctures: Australia, the reigning champions missing key players, and England, desperate to reclaim past glories.

Australia, despite being two-time Champions Trophy winners, head into the tournament low on momentum. Fresh off a 2-0 ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka, they’ve lost four consecutive ODIs, failing to surpass 200 runs in each. While the batting order, led by Travis Head’s fearless approach, offers some stability with the likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Glenn Maxwell, it remains uncertain how responsibility will be shared. Smith, standing in for Pat Cummins (who, along with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, is unavailable), faces the dual challenge of leading the side and fine-tuning the batting combination, especially with Mitchell Marsh injured.

Australia’s bowling attack, missing its premier pace trio for the first time since the 2016 T20 World Cup, raises significant questions. Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, and Ben Dwarshius form the backup unit, though only Abbott boasts notable success beyond T20 cricket. Transitioning that prowess into the 50-over format will be challenging. Nevertheless, the Aussies will be relieved to begin their campaign at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium—a venue that has recently seen 300-plus scores.

From the 2013 edition, Glenn Maxwell and Jos Buttler are the only players still featuring in their respective squads.

England, meanwhile, face different challenges. They’ve lost all four ODI series since the 2023 World Cup, including a demoralizing 3-0 thrashing in India. Criticism over excessive golfing and inadequate training has surfaced, but under Brendon McCullum’s new leadership, morale remains surprisingly positive. His month-old tenure as limited-overs coach focuses on fostering a pressure-free environment, with a training stint in the UAE aimed at resetting after recent failures. Facing Australia in their opener might just reignite England’s competitive edge.

Jos Buttler’s captaincy is under scrutiny as well. His early-year promise to “smile more” has yet to materialize, but returning after missing all ODIs in 2024 (due to a calf injury) should bolster his confidence. Notably, he missed last year’s five-match home series against Australia—one that saw England squander a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2. Australia’s dominance in that series was underlined by comprehensive results, with their spinners—particularly Adam Zampa—exploiting England’s batting vulnerabilities, ably supported by Maxwell, Labuschagne, and Head.

Adding further stakes, England aim to complete their ICC white-ball trophy collection, with the Champions Trophy remaining the elusive piece. Winning it would place them among cricket’s elite, making their opening clash against Australia even more crucial. In a short tournament where every match counts, an early statement could prove decisive—especially with the loser’s qualification hopes likely to take a significant hit.

Australia and England, winners of the last two ICC ODI tournaments, may traditionally be considered strong contenders, but both arrive at the 2025 Champions Trophy searching for form. Australia’s dented confidence stems from recent defeats and key absences, while England’s concerns revolve around consistency and adapting to new leadership. With tension, drama, and potential redemption at stake, their showdown at Lahore promises to be one of the tournament’s marquee encounters.

Australia vs England: Head-to-head

Australia and England share a closely contested head-to-head record in the Champions Trophy, with England narrowly leading 3-2.

• Matches Played: 161
• Won by Australia: 91
• Won by England: 65
• Tied: 2
• No Result: 3
• First-ever Fixture: 5 January 1971
• Most-recent Fixture: 29 September 2024

Australia vs England: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is renowned for its batting-friendly pitches, often yielding high-scoring ODIs. In the recent tri-series, New Zealand showcased this by posting 330/6 against Pakistan and later chasing down 305 with six wickets and eight balls to spare.

Lahore’s weather is expected to be warm but slightly cooler than during the tri-series, thanks to recent rainfall that hampered England’s training on Thursday. Dew is rarely a factor at this time of year, and both teams will be eager to take advantage of the run-friendly conditions seen in the just-concluded series.

Australia vs England: Recent Form

Australia: LLLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England: LLLLW

Australia vs England: Team News and Predicted XI

Australia – Team News

With key absences, Australia’s pace unit selects itself. Aaron Hardie, drafted in after Marcus Stoinis’ sudden 50-over retirement, may make way for Marnus Labuschagne to strengthen the batting lineup.

Ben Dwarshius, offering a left-arm pace and batting option, could edge out Sean Abbott for the bowling allrounder spot. The composition of the bowling attack remains a focal point, with Adam Zampa—Australia’s most seasoned bowler—tasked with spearheading the unit.

Australia – Predicted XI

1. Matthew Short
2. Travis Head
3. Steve Smith (C)
4. Marnus Labuschagne
5. Josh Inglis
6. Glenn Maxwell
7. Alex Carey (WK)
8. Sean Abbott/Ben Dwarshius
9. Nathan Ellis
10. Spencer Johnson
11. Adam Zampa

England – Team News

England, in a rare early move, named their playing XI two days before the match. Jamie Smith returns from a calf injury to take the No. 3 spot and handle wicketkeeping duties, shifting Joe Root to No. 4 and relieving Phil Salt of the gloves after his stint in India. This reshuffle aims to reinforce the middle order, which faced scrutiny during the India ODIs. Meanwhile, Jamie Smith has occupied the No. 3 batting position only once in his 18 List A appearances, which came for Surrey against Kent in 2019.

With only four specialist bowlers, Root and Liam Livingstone will need to effectively share the fifth bowling role. England’s pace threat lies with Mark Wood and Jofra Archer—making his first 50-over tournament appearance since his 2019 World Cup final heroics—posing Australia’s toughest batting test. Captain Jos Buttler described Smith’s elevation to No. 3 as a “free hit,” signaling England’s continued commitment to their aggressive playing style. Jofra Archer stands just two wickets shy of reaching 50 in ODI cricket.

England – Predicted XI

1. Phil Salt
2. Ben Duckett,
3. Jamie Smith (wk)
4. Joe Root,
5. Harry Brook
6. Jos Buttler
7. Liam Livingstone
8. Brydon Carse
9. Jofra Archer
10. Adil Rashid
11. Mark Wood

Australia vs England: Players To Watch Out For

Spencer Johnson (Australia)

Mitchell Starc is arguably irreplaceable in white-ball cricket, but if anyone can attempt to fill his shoes, it’s a six-foot-four left-armer capable of delivering thunderous deliveries. Spencer Johnson, however, has primarily showcased his talent in the shortest format.

With just three ODI appearances spread over a year, the responsibility of leading the attack at both ends of the innings is a significant challenge. Having claimed his first ODI wickets in Sri Lanka earlier this month, Johnson will be expected to shoulder a far greater load in Pakistan.

Harry Brook (England)

If there’s a place for Harry Brook to regain his form, Pakistan might just be it. The country’s pitches have suited him well in Tests, where he boasts an impressive average of 84.10 with four centuries—the latest being a triple ton.

Brook’s recent ODI stint in India was far less fruitful, with an average of just 16.66, largely due to struggles against spin. However, he can draw confidence from Pakistan’s flatter surfaces and his leadership performance against Australia last year, highlighted by his maiden ODI century in the third match at Chester-le-Street.

Australia vs England: Match Prediction

Scenario 1

• Toss: Australia win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay Score: 60-70
• England Total: 280-300
• Match Result: Australia wins the match

Scenario 2

• Toss: England win the toss and opt to bowl first
• Powerplay Score: 50-70
• Australia Total: 260- 290
• Match Result: England wins the match

When and Where To Watch Afghanistan vs South Africa LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 Group B encounter between Australia and England is scheduled for Saturday, February 22, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The match will commence at 2:30 PM IST, with the toss set for 2:00 PM. Fans can watch the live broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.

Read More: England Team Preview for Champions Trophy 2025: Can England Bounce Back and Defend Their 2019 Glory?
Also Read: Australia Team Preview for Champions Trophy 2025: Batters Have to Do the Heavy Lifting for Depleted World Champions

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