Australia has announced its 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy tournament, with some big names left out of the selection.
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Young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk was the most notable snub along with Sean Abbott, while Marcus Stoinis and Matt Short were named in the group to travel to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Nathan Ellis could play a big role with the injury cloud surrounding captain Pat Cummins.
Here we analyze the winners and losers from Australia’s Champions Trophy squad announcement.
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winner
Marcus Stoinis
The all-rounder was recently recalled to the Australian ODI squad and selected for the three-match summer series against Pakistan, from which they were eliminated after India’s World Cup win in 2023.
Stoinis featured only in Game III of that series, scoring eight runs before bowling three overs, with Pakistan scoring a total of 140 runs.
After 46 ODI appearances since March 2019, Stoinis has made a half-century in this format. To elaborate, in the previous 26 games he had featured in seven, including an unbeaten 146 against New Zealand in 2017.
With Mitch Marsh returning to this squad, there was a very real possibility that Stoinis would be ousted from the Champions Trophy with little international form.
However, the gun all-rounder retained his place after a strong performance in the BBL for the Stars.
He scored 37, 62 and 48, scoring under 18 only once in nine appearances.
Stoinis also took three handy wickets and bowled fairly economically, increasing the pressure on him with the ball in his hands.
His inclusion marks a drastic change in the fortunes of the all-rounder, who was once thought to be nearing the end of his ODI career.
“I would be surprised if Marcus Stoinis plays another ODI,” cricket writer Daniel Cherny told SEN in January 2024.
“I mean, it’s not impossible, but he’s 35 this year and to be honest, his ODI form over the last four or five years has been pretty average, especially with the bat.
“He obviously lost his place in the World Cup. But he has had a great career and is a World Cup winner in both ODI and T20 formats.”
Stoinis has been left off the Cricket Australia central contract list for the 2024-25 season, putting the writing on the wall.
In this way, selection for the Champions Trophy can be seen as a huge lifeline in the veteran right-hander’s national team career.
It remains to be seen whether Stoinis will rejoin Australia’s XI. But with the BBL season underway and Stoinis out of form, he has a huge opportunity to further stake his claim.
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Mitch Marsh
With Marsh’s career hitting another low point this summer, having Marsh on this team could be the circuit breaker he needs.
Marsh was left out of the Test side for the fourth and final clash of the recent India series, with Beau Webster taking up the all-rounder’s spot.
The decision came after Western Australia bowled just 13 overs in the three Tests for scores of 9, 5, 4, 2 and 0.
“‘Mitchy’ obviously didn’t do well, and maybe it could make this series a success,” Cummins said.
“So we felt it was time for a change of pace and Beau has been fantastic.
“It’s a shame for Mitchy, because we know how much he brings to the team, but I think it’s a good week for Beau to get his opportunity.”
Marsh was left out of the squad for the Sri Lanka series. This means his future as a Test cricketer has now begun.
He can at least feel secure about his place in Australia’s 50-over team and his white-ball stock remains healthy.
Marsh’s place in the ODI side has never really been in jeopardy despite recent form difficulties.
The 33-year-old scored an incredible unbeaten score of 177 runs in a stupendous World Cup performance against Bangladesh in November 2023.
With his 121 a month ago and his 60 against England in September 2024, it is clear that Marsh has made a significant contribution to Australia’s 50-over format.
His confidence may be down at the moment, but the Champions Trophy could be Marsh’s big opportunity to bounce back even if he never plays Test cricket again.
mat short
With Travis Head back at the top of the Champions Trophy order, one of Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk has had to make way.
The selectors made a bold call in favor of Short, overlooking Fraser-McGurk, who was seen as a rising star and tipped by David Warner as his long-term successor.
Fraser-McGurk failed to make the most of his opportunity in green and gold. But the same cannot be said for Short, who has averaged just 14 runs in three appearances against Pakistan.
The 29-year-old has played in 11 matches, averaging 21.66 in ODIs with a highest score of 58.
However, Short offers a quick off-break that could make him a solid option for the Australian in the subcontinent where spin leakage is important.
After a slow start to the BBL campaign, Short has been in full form for the Strikers, scoring scores of 52 and 109 in the last two matches.
His ton of a century last week was the fastest in history for a striker off just 49 balls and rewrote the Adelaide franchise’s record books.
Adam Gilchrist described last century as “simply brilliant”, adding: “He was always there when the team needed him.”
The knock could not have come at a better time, with selectors having to make a call between him and Fraser-McGurk.
Nathan Ellis
Australia has selected big three pace bowlers in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
However, with Ellis also in the squad and an injury cloud hanging over Cummins’ ankle, the Tasmanian gun could find himself a regular fixture in the Champions Trophy side.
The 30-year-old has played eight ODI games so far and has taken 10 wickets at an average of 38.20.
However, he bowled economically in that game and the batsman could only score 5.96 runs per over.
Ellis also had some impressive spells for the Hurricanes in BBL14. Took 2/12 against Renegades and 1/28 against Scorchers.
But it was in the recent match against Pakistan that he likely earned his place in the white-ball team.
Ellis took 3/9 in Brisbane’s tremendous T20 spell, taking 1/20 on his home soil in Hobart.
The gunseamer has all the tricks needed to succeed in the shorter format, with a variety of slow balls and cutters ready to fool the batsman.
He has also played white-ball cricket for Australia in the subcontinent.
Ellis has taken three wickets or more on four occasions against Bangladesh and India in T20s between August 2021 and November 2023.
Now the Tasmanian can make a big difference as he can once again showcase his skills in the 50-over format.
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loser
Jake Frazier-McGurk
Fraser-McGurk played all three matches of the T20 and ODI series against Pakistan in his most recent Australian outing, but struggled to score as he failed to fire.
In the shorter format, the 22-year-old scored just 47 runs, while he scored 36 runs at an average of 12 in a 50-over game.
Fraser-McGurk is one of the most explosive batsmen in the world, but his aggressive style has not served him well so far this summer.
In the current BBL season, he has scored more than 20 goals only twice.
With his highest ODI score of just 41 in five games for Australia, the rising star has come under intense scrutiny for the swashbuckling style he continues to adhere to.
Now with Travis Head back in the squad and making the most of his opportunity in short stature form, Fraser-McGurk is on the outside.
The Australian selectors’ decision comes after former Australia opener Warner suggested the 22-year-old may have problems with his approach.
“We were talking about whether his game plan would change. Well, probably not.” Warner said on Fox Cricket.
“He’s happy with the way he’s approaching the game (but) he wants a few more goals… If he doesn’t score, the solution to that is to drop out.
“The method he thinks will work for him will work for him, but if he’s not scoring, sometimes he might have to tweak it a little bit.”
Meanwhile, Australian legend Adam Gilchrist said: “He is dynamite and a box office hit.
“(But) I wish someone would tell him there’s no shame in backing off a little. “You don’t have to do what everyone expects.”
Fraser-McGurk will be hoping to finish the BBL campaign strongly with the Renegades and will look to recapture South Australian form when the One Day Cup resumes in February.
Sean Abbott
At a time when Australia had fielded a trio of specialist pacers and several all-rounders, Abbott was the odd man out.
The 32-year-old featured in the two matches of the recent ODI series against Pakistan but failed to capitalize on his opportunities.
Abbott took only one wicket in 14 overs, averaging 83 and economy 5.92.
Although he is the most prolific bowler in the BBL, taking the most wickets in the history of a T20 competition, Abbott is yet to fully establish himself in the national team.
This is despite having previously been a regular for the Australian national team, appearing in the wider group for the recent Test series in India and being named in the squad for the 2023 World Cup.
However, with the return of Mitchell Marsh, who had played against Pakistan due to personal reasons, Abbott was pushed out as an all-rounder.
Australia’s pace overs will be handled by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc along with white-ball specialist Nathan Ellis.
Meanwhile, Marcus Stoinis’ bowling load has increased in BBL14, with Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Hardie also available to deliver overs on call.
Like Fraser-McGurk, Abbott is likely to feature in NSW’s One Day Cup when that competition begins in February.
With its multiple powerful capabilities, the Gunsimmer can continue to be counted for years to come.
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bo webster
Webster enjoyed a successful Test debut at the SCG and proved he belongs among the very best with an impressive all-round game.
He certainly wasn’t the right fit for this team, but he’s one of those guys you’d be unfortunate to miss out on.
The 31-year-old is good at bowling both pace and spin and his versatility will be a big factor in his selection for the Test tour of Sri Lanka.
The Tasmanian’s Sheffield Shield record is impressive, scoring 5393 runs at an average of 38.24 with 12 centuries, but his List A statistics are less eye-catching.
He averages 31.35 with the bat and 31.02 with the ball in One Dayers, so selectors can see him primarily as a Test player for now.
