England, Australia Look to Surmount Recent ODI Blip in Lahore

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England and Australia, the winners of the last two ICC ODI events, enter the 2025 Champions Trophy with little to no momentum. Australia has lost their last four games in the format, while England's title defense didn't go according to plan in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Australia's batting lineup is short on confidence, but they will be glad to be playing on placid surfaces in Pakistan. Their bowling unit, however, will come under the scanner, as they will be entering an ICC event for the first time without their first-choice pace bowling trio.

England, on the other hand, has injury issues to contend with, but their batting unit will also be glad to be playing on placid surfaces in Pakistan. They will be looking to join Australia and other elite teams as the only ones to have won all three major ICC white-ball tournaments.

Match Details

• Date: February 22, 2025
• Time: 2:30 PM IST
• Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• Weather: Warm

Probable XIs

• Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steve Smith (C), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (WK), Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
• England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (WK), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (C), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Key Players

• Australia: Adam Zampa, Travis Head, Steve Smith
• England: Jamie Smith, Jos Buttler, Joe Root