Australia take massive step to prepare for Champions Trophy 2025, will play extra match after Test series against Sri Lanka - check details

Nikhil

Nikhil

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Australia take massive step to prepare for Champions Trophy 2025, will play extra match after Test series against Sri Lanka - check details
Pat Cummins in frame

Story Highlights:

Australia is set to tour Sri Lanka.

They have also announced Champions Trophy squad.

Australia take big step to prepare for the mega tournament.

Australia's tour of Sri Lanka now includes an additional ODI, giving the visitors more time to get ready for the Champions Trophy. The two games are now scheduled to be day games on February 12 and 14 at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium. It will be interesting to watch how many players who play in that match can recover for the one-dayer if the Test continues. The first of the games starts barely two days after the second Test's planned fifth day in Galle.

However, 9 members of Australia's preliminary Champions Trophy team, including skipper Pat Cummins and fellow pacer Josh Hazlewood, are not playing in the Test series. However, because of an ankle injury he sustained while playing in the India Test series, Cummins' participation is still in doubt.

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Around the beginning of the second Test, Australia's ODI players are anticipated to land in Sri Lanka. On February 22, they play England in the Champions Trophy opener. On February 25, they play South Africa, and on February 28, their clash against Afghanistan will happen.

Due to India's refusal to visit Pakistan, the hybrid model was confirmed, and the first semi-final will be held in Dubai on March 4 and the second in Lahore on March 5. Depending on whether India qualifies, the final will take place in either Dubai or Lahore on March 9.

Australia's squad for Champions Trophy 

Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa