File picture of Mark Wood and Jamie Smith during an England nets session
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Jamie Smith will return from injury to keep wicket and bat at number three in England’s Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore on Saturday (February 21, 2025).
The 24-year-old missed England’s recent humbling 3-0 series loss in India because of a calf injury and had been expected to return to the side but not so high in the batting order.
Phil Salt, who stood in as wicketkeeper in India, loses the gloves but retains his spot in the opening partnership alongside Ben Duckett with Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone shuffling down the order to accommodate Smith.
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Brydon Carse also returns after being sidelined by blisters to take his place in a three-pronged pace attack with Jofra Archer and Mark Wood.
There is little room for error in the Champions Trophy with England likely to need at least two wins from their Group B matches against Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa to progress to the semi-finals.
Squads
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), 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.
Published – February 21, 2025 11:45 am IST
