Australia kicks off their Champions Trophy campaign on Saturday night when they face off against the old enemy in England. With only three group stage games before the Semi Finals, this is a crucial clash in the makeup of Group B! Check out our full preview below.
2025 ICC Champions Trophy Preview & Betting Tips
Australia vs England
Lahore, Saturday 22nd February, 8:00pm AEDT
Australia
Predicted XI: Travis Head, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
Australia come into the tournament with no continuity in their squad, and poor performances across their last two ODI series. Five members who were named in Australia’s original Champions Trophy squad in Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh won’t feature at the tournament. It’s likely that the playing XI on Saturday will only feature five players from the World Cup winning XI in 2023.
Australia’s last two series which featured a similarly inexperienced squad that will play in Pakistan, aren’t much cause for hope. A 2-1 defeat at home to Pakistan followed by a 2-0 hammering from Sri Lanka, with Australia only producing scores of 165 and 107. In their two defeats to Pakistan they scored 163 and 140. Australia’s batting unit is going to rely heavily on the experience of Head, Smith, Maxwell and Carey, then hope they can get some contributions from the younger brigade.
Despite the defeat in Sri Lanka there were some positive signs from Australia’s inexperienced bowlers. Nathan Ellis (2/23), Aaron Hardie (2/13) and Spencer Johnson 2/44 were all good in the opening game of the series, and provide plenty of variety in the seam department for Australia.
England
Predicted XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Tom Banton, Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood
Like Australia, England come into this series desperately out of form in one day cricket, losing four consecutive ODI series leading into the Champions Trophy. England were smashed 3-0 by India, scoring below 250 in two of the three games, whilst conceding 300+ in two of the three games. The only game they didn’t concede 300 was when India chased down 248 inside of 39 overs, with England’s bowling attack in white ball cricket continuing to be an issue.
In the 2023 World Cup England won only three of their nine games at the tournament, where their bowling was exposed game after game and their ultra-aggressive batting approach came unstuck. That batting approach drew a lot of criticism in their series defeat to India, and will be under the microscope over the coming weeks.
Although they do receive plenty of criticism, if their batting finds form England will be one of the most dangerous teams at this tournament. England have piled on some massive scores in red ball cricket in Pakistan, and they did pile on plenty of runs in the latter part of their 3-2 defeat against Australia last year. England scored 4/245 (37.4 overs), 5/312 (39 overs) and 309 in the final three matches of the series.
Match Prediction
Both teams have deficiencies in at least one facet of the game, for Australia it’s their batting and for England, it’s their bowling. Given the conditions that will be on hand in Lahore, England’s batting will be the biggest factor in this clash. There have been 14 scores of 290 or more in the last 15 games at Gaddafi Stadium, so having the power in their batting lineup could be the deciding factor in this clash.
England have more experience and proven performers in their side, which could give Australia’s inexperienced bowling attack some serious issues if they get off to a hot start. England have won two of the last three ODI’s played between the two sides, and will be confident not having to face the likes of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc. England will put up a score that Australia’s batting unit won’t be able to get past in a high scoring encounter in Lahore.
England to Win
$2.05 (1.5 Units)
Prop Bet
Ben Duckett has starred in all formats over the last two years, with his improvement in ODI cricket quite dramatic. In 2024 Duckett scored 305 runs at an average of 61 with a strike rate of 109.71, with all 305 of those runs coming in a five-game series against Australia. Duckett was England’s best performer against India scoring 131 runs at an average of 43.67 and a strike rate of 122.43. Pakistan is a happy hunting ground for Duckett, where he averages over 61 in Test cricket.
Ben Duckett – England Top Run Scorer
$5.20
