Priyanka Tiwari
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Defending ODI World Cup winners Australia will compete in the upcoming Champions Trophy without their first-choice fast bowlers, including Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. Additionally, Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh will miss the tournament due to injuries. Australia is set to face England, Afghanistan, and South Africa in the league stage.
Will Australia Struggle in the Champions Trophy?
Legendary wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist believes that Australia may struggle in Pakistan due to their limited preparation for the tournament. "Australia has had minimal preparation in this format. The Australian team performed exceptionally well this summer, both men’s and women’s teams. However, when it's a World Cup year, many countries focus more on 50-over cricket in terms of match count and team selection," Gilchrist stated.
Gilchrist’s Concerns for the Australian Squad
According to Gilchrist, the absence of key players and limited game time in the format could lead to inconsistent results. "The next ODI World Cup will be in 2027, so this is an opportunity to experiment and give young players a chance. However, Australia thrives on tournament play and finding a way to progress to the next round. It will be challenging in Pakistan’s conditions, especially without the usual full-strength squad. This could be a tough tournament for them," he added.
Steve Smith's Role in the Champions Trophy
Gilchrist has suggested that Steve Smith should open the batting for Australia in the Champions Trophy. With Pat Cummins unavailable, Smith will captain the squad. Gilchrist believes that moving Smith to the top of the order will allow him to face more balls and contribute significantly to the team’s success.
Middle-Order Struggles for Steve Smith
Smith has struggled in the middle order, scoring only 12 and 29 during Australia's 2-0 ODI series loss to Sri Lanka. Given Jake Fraser-McGurk’s poor form, Gilchrist feels Smith should open the innings. However, he also sees Matthew Short as a potential opening partner for Travis Head.
Smith as an Opening Batsman?
On the ABC Summer Grandstand show, Gilchrist emphasized, "It’s challenging right now, but Steve Smith should open. He wasn’t positioned effectively in the matches against Sri Lanka. Travis Head will be a guaranteed opener, and Matthew Short is a promising option for a left-hand and right-hand combination. However, I still believe Steve Smith opening would be a better choice."
Opportunity to Maximize Smith’s Contribution
Gilchrist further explained, “We’ve seen Steve Smith take on a similar role in T20 cricket. While he is valuable in the middle order, I don’t see why he shouldn’t face as many balls as possible in a 50-over game. Moving him up the order could be a very effective strategy.”
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