Australia’s preparation for the next Men’s T20 World Cup has taken a tactical approach, as it is expected that fast bowler Pat Cummins will miss the first part of the tournament due to an ongoing lower-back stress fracture injury. Nevertheless, Cricket Australia has included Cummins as part of its 15-player provisional squad, a move that indicates a tactical investment looking for the maximum benefit of the player in the pivotal stages leading up to the knockout finals compared to the group phase.

Selectors believe that even though Cummins will not be available for early games, if they are able to hold on to him and make it through to the later parts of the tournament with him, then he will provide value to their success. They see him as an impactful player in matches where experience and a high level of performance will greatly affect the outcome of a championship. As far as the group stage matches are concerned, they believe that the other bowlers, along with the spin options, will suffice against oppositions that are relative to lower-tier teams.

Cummins will return for his primary assessment of his status through a medical scan in late October to help determine his physical recovery timeline. There is still uncertainty around his participation in the initial phases of the tournament; however, with confidence, the selectors will have a limited rehabilitation window to develop Craig's physical capabilities, allowing him to be ready for the Super-8s and knockout rounds, where pressure and experience will generally determine the success of winning championships.

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Repeating the Strategy of Selecting Head-Like Players in World Cups

Selectors emulate this strategy by maintaining players who they believe possess a significant amount of skill but are unfit for the entire tournament, just as Australia did in 2023 when Travis Head was included in the Australian ODI World Cup team even though he broke his arm and could not perform for half of the tournament. Travis Head was able to come back midway through the World Cup and ultimately performed the necessary tasks to help win the World Series.

The chief selector of Australia, George Bailey, and the head coach of Australia, Andrew McDonald, have vocally supported this type of approach and continue to use it; they believe it is essential to play at your best at this time of the year when preparing for global tournaments. The selections of Travis Head and others are one example of this type of strategy.

There are potential risks associated with this type of selection strategy, as other players on the team may also be dealing with fitness problems. Therefore, it is possible that Australia could enter the World Cup without many available options if their players are all at the same level or limited in flexibility. However, there is confidence in the team's belief that a partially fit Pat Cummins late in the tournament could be the difference between an early exit and winning another World Cup.

Australia has made significant changes to their squad ahead of the Boxing Day Test against England in the 2025-26 Ashes series. Steve Smith will captain the team, filling in for Pat Cummins, who will not play due to workload management, and Nathan Lyon is unavailable because of injury (hamstring). As Australia has already retained the Ashes, the selectors were able to concentrate more on player fitness and balance going into the final stages of this series.
Pat Cummins was omitted as a "precaution" due to back problems that have been affecting him recently. Although he played in the 3rd Test at Adelaide, the team management opted not to take the risk of putting him under further strain. Similarly, Nathan Lyon will not play again in this series following a hamstring injury sustained during their last match. Reports say that Lyon will have to have surgery and will miss a significant amount of time from competitive cricket.
Australia has boosted their pace attack due to the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood by bringing back fast bowler Jhye Richardson, who is fully fit after getting cleared by his medical team. Todd Murphy has also been selected to provide off-spin cover in place of Matthew Kuhnemann and Corey Rocchiccioli based upon the strength of his performance in the Tests and being able to replicate the right-handed off-spin of Nathan Lyon.

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Richardson and Murphy Return as Australia Focus on Depth

Todd Murphy, who recently made his Test debut, has taken 22 wickets in just seven Tests at an excellent average. His calmness and consistency have made the selectors feel confident about using him as the replacement for Nathan Lyon through the Melbourne Test because of Murphy's past experience performing well in difficult conditions.

The return of Jhye Richardson is yet another positive for the Australians, as the quick has taken 11 wickets for the Test matches he has played (3) with an excellent average. His pace and control provide additional variety to the bowling unit while also providing much-needed support to both Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.

Australia will be captained by Steve Smith in the Boxing Day Test, his third time captaining Australia during this Ashes series, having missed the Adelaide Test due to illness. Smith has returned to form and fitness and joins a team that includes Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Alex Carey, thus ensuring that Australia will have a very strong and well-balanced team for the all-important Melbourne Test.

Australia squad for fourth Test of Ashes 2025-26

Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

In a significant development ahead of the resumption of IPL 2025, Cricket Australia (CA) has officially addressed the uncertainty surrounding its players’ participation in the remaining matches of the tournament. The IPL, which was abruptly suspended on May 9 due to the military conflict between India and Pakistan, is now scheduled to resume on May 17, with the final slated for June 3.

Amid rising tensions in the subcontinent, CA’s latest statement provides clarity while also offering flexibility. "Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not,” the board said on Tuesday, May 13. “Team management will work through preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches."

With the WTC final between Australia and South Africa scheduled for June 11 at Lord’s just eight days after the IPL final several top Australian cricketers face a tough call. CA’s relaxed stance indicates that it will not enforce a blanket rule, instead allowing players to weigh their own fitness and security concerns.

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Australian Players Uncertain After IPL Suspension Amid Security Concerns

The situation is complicated by the fact that some Australian players were reportedly “shaken” by the India-Pakistan military clash that triggered the IPL suspension. While players such as Pat Cummins and Travis Head (both Sunrisers Hyderabad) are no longer in playoff contention, others like Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals), Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Josh Inglis (Punjab Kings) remain integral to their teams' campaigns.

CRICKET AUSTRALIA STATEMENT:

"CA will support players in their individual decisions whether to return for the IPL or not.

Team management will work through preparation implications for the WTC Final for players who choose to play the remaining IPL matches". 🇮🇳

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 13, 2025

Hazlewood, in particular, is believed to be nursing a shoulder injury and may choose to sit out the remainder of the IPL to fully recover ahead of the WTC final.

Most Australian players have returned home since the IPL’s suspension, with only a handful of support staff such as Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin staying back in India. Coaches Justin Langer and Mike Hussey have also flown back due to security concerns.

As the BCCI prepares to host the rest of the season across six venues, the participation of Australian stars will remain a key talking point, both from a team perspective and with an eye on the looming WTC final.

Cricket West Indies officials are hopeful that Sabina Park in Jamaica will stage its first-ever day-night Test when Australia comes to play the third match of their series in July. The game is pencilled as a pink-ball Test with a 1:30 pm local time start, but this hinges on the completion of floodlight upgrades. Sabina Park has never staged a day-night international game because the stadium lacked proper lighting.

Cricket Australia favors the introduction of a day-night Test, and officials will visit the ground this month. Jamaica Cricket Association President Dr. Donovan Bennett said delays in installing new lights, which are to be sourced from England, were confirmed.

Australia has 12 out of 13 day-night Tests, but all of those victories have been on home soil. They only lost one to West Indies at the Gabba in January last year.

CWI chief executive Chris Dehring is optimistic. "The last time we toured Australia and played Australia in Australia, we managed to do what they regard as an upset. We are looking to go one better," he stated. After being a premier venue, Sabina Park has been used to stage only three Tests since the last six years. Jamaica also did not submit an application for hosting matches in last year's T20 World Cup because of sub-standard facilities. The lighting improvement will also enable two T20Is of the series to be hosted under lights.

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The Jamaican government has pledged JMD 75 million ($763,000 AUD) to effect the upgrades.

West Indies vs Australia Fixtures

Australian opener Matthew Short is expected to miss the Champions Trophy semifinal against India or New Zealand following the in-form batsman's quad injury in the rain-abandoned game against Afghanistan.
Short had scored 20 off 15 balls on Friday but had appeared to be in obvious discomfort before being bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai as Australia made it to the semifinals with four points.

🚨 REPORTS 🚨

Matt Short is likely to miss the Champions Trophy semi-final due to a quad injury. 🏆🇦🇺

Who should replace him in Australia's XI? 🤔#Cricket #Australia #ODI #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/5KN57Oclw6

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 1, 2025

ALSO SEE:  Jos Butler Pens Down From England Captaincy

Short suffered an injury late in Afghanistan's innings, and though opening the batting with Travis Head, he could not move freely between the wickets, and mostly played shots for boundaries. He scored 20 from 15 deliveries in an important opening partnership of 44 runs in 4.3 overs before being caught at mid-on. Post-match, captain Steven Smith recognized the time limit on Short's recovery.
I believe he'll be fighting. I believe we got to see tonight he wasn't running that well. I believe it's most likely going to be too fast between games for him to recover," Smith claimed during the post-match ceremony.
Jake Fraser-McGurk, a replacement for the injured Mitchell Marsh, is the spare batter in the squad and could be a direct swap for Short at the top of the order. However, other options are available, with all-rounder Aaron Hardie possibly stepping in if someone else is moved up to open.
“We’ve got a few guys available to fill the role," Smith said.
If Short is officially ruled out of the tournament for the remainder of it, left-handed batsman and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly may be brought in as a traveling reserve. Short's absence would also take away a spin-bowling option since he had bowled seven superb overs for 21 runs against Afghanistan. Australia still has other spin-bowling options in the form of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, who claimed two wickets against England but were not given a run on Friday.
Australia was already struggling with a few injuries heading into the tournament, with Marsh (back), Pat Cummins (ankle), Josh Hazlewood (hip), Mitchell Starc (ankle) out of action, and Marcus Stoinis retiring.
The other Group B team's fate is still unclear, but South Africa is most likely to accompany Australia. But the venues for the semi-finals will only be known after the India-New Zealand match on Sunday evening. The standings at the end of Group B will be determined after South Africa plays England on Saturday, but India and New Zealand are already destined for their respective venues in Dubai and Lahore.
Australia will play the winner of the India-New Zealand match in the semi-final. Australia will play the loser of that match.
Regardless of which team goes to Dubai, they will have only slightly more than 24 hours to prepare. Conditions in Dubai, where India hosts all their matches, have been spin-friendly, and Australia has leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha as a possible frontline choice.

There have been numerous game-changing moments in the history of One Day International (ODI) cricket but tactical revolution has changed the cricket for ever. There are tons of game-changing moments that have happened in One Day International cricket (ODI) but some of them were really tactical masterstrokes that changed the history. Whether it was a clever strategy, or a gutsy call or a world beater these moments not only changed the course of matches but how we play cricket in general. ODI history lives forever: here are a few master minds tactics that changed the world.

Sri Lanka’s Real Powerplay (1996 World Cup)

If Sri Lanka 1996 World Cup win wasn’t a win for them as a Nation, probably most they won, Is it anything in ODI cricket. With the revolutionary leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga and the tactical mind over matter coach Dav Whatmore, Sri Lanka started out by introducing a pure battle in their form during 1st 15 overs.

• What it says: In the first powerplay overs, Openers Sanath Jayasuriya & Romesh Kaluwitharana took on the world in EVERY Ball.

• Consequences: In an era of ODI strategy, this plan was too effective and helped built the foundation for big hitting in opening 10-15 overs of ODIs.

Dhoni Promotion in 2011 World Cup final (Ind vs Sri Lanka)
One of the all-time great tactical decisions in ODIs was witnessed at the 2011 World Cup Final between India vs Sri Lanka.

•Key Move: Captain MS Dhoni slipped closer up the order from No. 5 (where he was initially fielded along with Yuvraj Singh who is meant to be in form)

• Impact: Dhoni steadied the ship in chasing, absorbing pressure and smashed a milestone 91*, the match winner for India to lift their ODI title crown 28 years later. His iconic six will always be a special moment of ODI ones.

The Total Domination Way for England (2015)
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• Point: England turned their over the top ODI conversation into an offensive, fearless assault: scoring at least 350 with the bat several times.

• So the move helped in England dominance of white-ball matches and lifted their World Cup in the 2019 with thunderous batsmen.

Australia Ruthless 4-Pacer squad for the World Cup 2003

Then, there is the most dominant team in ODI history that the 2003 World Cup Australian World Cup-winning side. Fastest strategy? These four pronged approach of their pace attack was very deadly.

 • Ponting   and the Australia team relied on Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath , Andy Bichel and Jason Gillespie be destroy opposition batting order.

• Australia never lost in tournament and then the second consecutive World cup victory in style

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South Africa Apply the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (1992 World Cup)

At times great strategy does not belong to the team itself, but rather the game. As a result of major miscalculation in the DLS semi-final during the 1992 World Cup, we were introduced Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) best estimate method.

• Down-Under: South Africa were needing only 22 runs from the final 13 balls to reach bowl Semifinal, only for that target rising to bizarre mention 22 runs from ONE ball following the rain stoppage.

• Effect: This unfairness resulted in the creation of the DLS system which is what is in use for the alterations rain played over in all forms of limited-overs matches.

Surprise left-arm pacer strategy (1992 World cup final) Pakistan

Pakistan won the 1992 World cup & it was a masterstroke which the team followed in a strategic manner; from the surprise of captain Imran Khan wearing NLD left-arm pacers.

• Super Move: Although Wasim Akram had become an icon already what was born in that final (Two induces over two balls ) was a Pakistani strategic move to use him for game-changing breakthroughs

• Orlando: A strategy that enabled Pakistan to win their one & only World Cup and Wasim Akram's deliveries are still considered legends at the death

Reverse Swing in ODIs (1980s –90s)

Bestiary: Once upon a time, when it perfected the art of reverse swing, bizarre in its newness, no Pakistani fast bowler was beating in an ODICC played with die-hard respect.

• Main Characters: Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis honed the craft turning old-ball cricket (a cheap wicket) just as saleable as new ball spells

• Significance: For all teams across world teams to look for reverse swing, and the death over illumination that defined ODIs.

Final Thoughts

ODI cricket is a story of constant tweaking and genius tactics have left their mark on it. Sri Lanka vs England— post their powerplay blitz, every now and then in the run chase each of these moments changed the colour. As the sport evolves, more tactical innovations will be developed that give the ODI format its excitement!

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will start on February 19, 2025. Fans of cricket all over the globe are looking forward to seeing their favorite teams face each other in this elite competition. The event will host major cricketing nations, which will ensure exciting games and heated rivalries. Live coverage from several platforms will mean that viewers get to enjoy good-quality broadcasts in different languages, making the experience smooth and effortless.

CHAMPIONS TROPHY GROUPS

Group A: Pakistan (hosts), India, New Zealand, Bangladesh

Group B: Australia, England, South Africa, Afghanistan

Notable Things

• Tournament Start Date: February 19, 2025
• India's First Match: February 20, 2025 (India vs Bangladesh)
• India vs Pakistan Clash: February 23, 2025

First match: Pakitan vs New Zeland

LIVE STREAMING DETAILS

ALSO READ:PAK vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win? | Match 01, ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Preview & Analysis

India Champions Trophy Squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy

•  Coach: Gautam Gambhir
• Best performance: Champions (2002, 2013)

New Zealand’s cricket team faces a significant blow ahead of the second Test against Australia as Will O’Rourke has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. This injury has prompted the selectors to turn to uncapped pacer Ben Sears to fill the void left by O’Rourke’s absence.

Despite recent retirement, Neil Wagner will not be making a surprise return to the national team. Instead, Sears, with experience in 13 T20 internationals, has a chance to make his Test debut when the match kicks off at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

The decision not to recall Wagner underscores the selectors’ confidence in Sears’ abilities. Coach Gary Stead has praised Sears’ genuine pace and bounce, considering them valuable assets in Test cricket. Stead’s belief in Sears’ potential to step up to the challenge of Test cricket suggests that the young bowler could play a crucial role in the upcoming match against Australia.

Ben Sears’ Potential Debut Amidst Injury Woes

Meanwhile, Australia holds a 1-0 series lead after securing a convincing victory over New Zealand in the first Test at the Basin Reserve. As the series shifts to Christchurch, New Zealand will be eager to level the playing field on their home turf. The absence of key players like O’Rourke poses a challenge, but Sears’ inclusion injects a sense of anticipation and opportunity into the team’s lineup.

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The upcoming Test presents a pivotal moment for both teams, with Australia aiming to extend their lead and New Zealand determined to stage a comeback. Sears’ potential debut adds an intriguing subplot to the match, offering fans a glimpse into the future of New Zealand cricket. With the series finely poised, all eyes will be on Hagley Oval as the battle between these two cricketing rivals unfolds.

During a Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and Tasmania on Sunday (March 3), Australian cricketer Will Pucovski suffered a head blow from a Riley Meredith bouncer, leading to his retirement from the game due to injury. This is not the first time Pucovski has faced such an incident, having previously endured head injuries.

The unfortunate event occurred during Victoria’s pursuit of 442 in their second innings, with Pucovski batting at No. 3. Facing only the second delivery from Meredith, the bouncer struck the left side of Pucovski’s helmet, causing him to retire hurt with a score of 0.

Pucovski’s Health Under Scrutiny After Head Injury

Prior to this incident, Pucovski had suffered a head injury during a second XI match in January. Despite his resilient return, scoring 131 in a subsequent Shield match against New South Wales, concerns linger regarding his condition as further medical updates are awaited.

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The distressing sight of Pucovski kneeling on the pitch prompted swift medical attention, and although he walked off the field rubbing his eyes, Cricket Victoria assured that he is under the care of medical professionals, with updates pending.

Following concussion protocols, reserve batter Campbell Kellaway substituted for Pucovski. The 26 Year-old cricketer, who has played one Test match against India in January 2021, not only battles physical injuries but also candidly discusses his struggles with mental health, acknowledging its greater challenge in recent interviews.

The Australian cricket team delivered a stellar performance, successfully chasing down the 216-run target set by New Zealand with six wickets in hand within 20 overs. This remarkable achievement marked their third-highest successful run chase in T20 cricket, underscoring their resilience in high-pressure situations.

Notably, Australia’s highest successful T20I run chase had also occurred against the Kiwis in Auckland back in 2018 when they achieved a stunning target of 244 runs with seven balls remaining. The second-best chase involved India whereby they hunted down 223 runs in Guwahati last year thereby showing their capacity of chasing big targets against top notch opponents.

Australia’s Dominance in T20I Run-Chases

In a nail-biting climax to the match, and needing 16 off the last over, Tim David played a brave innings striking veteran bowler Tim Southee for 12 from three balls which included an important six and boundary off last throw thus giving Australia an exciting victory.

Unbeaten on 72 runs off 44 balls, skipper Mitchell Marsh provided the much needed support to Tim David. The duo stepped in after wicketkeeper Josh Inglis was dismissed—forming a crucial partnership of 44 runs in just 19 deliveries and taking Australia towards an imposing target set by New Zealand.

Australia’s openers Travis Head and David Warner got the Australian chase off to a good start. Although they both fell within the first seven overs, their rapid scoring partnership put them in a strong position at 69-2.

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Mitchell Marsh and Tim David’s Heroic Partnership

In spite of losing important players, there were middle-order batsmen that contributed substantially to the pursuit. Glenn Maxwell injected some energy into the innings with his quick fire knock of 25 from just 11 balls before being cleaned up by Lockie Ferguson who took a well-directed yorker thus stood out as New Zealand’s most economical bowler.

The first innings began with Finn Allen and Devon Conway opening up with a quickfire partnership of 61 runs in merely 5.2 overs for the Black Caps Franchise. This was followed by Rachin Ravindra reaching his maiden T20I fifty from twenty nine deliveries while Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman also played valuable hands, leading to New Zealand amassing an imposing total of two hundred fifteen for three.

Australia’s strong batting, led by Mitchell Marsh and Tim David, eventually ensured a famous win in a high-scoring contest despite New Zealand’s daunting total, revealing their tough side and performance under pressure in T20 cricket.