Old rivalry is renewed at the Champions Trophy on Saturday when England open their campaign against Australia. Andy Schooler previews the showdown in Lahore exclusively for kwiff.
ICC Champions Trophy 2025: England v Australia in Lahore
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan
Date/Time: Saturday February 22, 0900 GMT
TV: Sky Sports Cricket
It’s fair to say that tournament preparations for these two teams have not gone well. England were uncompetitive as they slumped to a 3-0 series loss in India where their batters’ struggles against spin were exposed. They’ve now lost all four ODI series since the 2023 World Cup by a combined score of 4-10.
Champions Trophy 2025: Wounded Aussies
Meanwhile, Australia were losing 2-0 in Sri Lanka but, more importantly, losing players left, right and centre. They will be without the entire pace attack from their World Cup-winning team, with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood injured and Mitchell Starc withdrawing for personal reasons. Mitchell Marsh is also out, while Marcus Stoinis unexpectedly retired from one-day internationals.
Champions Trophy: Beauty of BazBall
That has to give underdogs England hope. OK, they were crushed in India but that was against the tournament favourites – no opponent in a highly competitive Group A comes close to them. The signs are that the Pakistani pitches should be batter friendly. The two games during the recent Tri-Series which were played in Lahore both produced first innings above 300. In the past couple of years, England have scored at a faster rate than any team at this tournament and here Australia look set to field only one front-line spinner in Adam Zampa, which should suit Jos Buttler’s side.
Champions Trophy 2025: Read him like a Brook
The worry is that England have been bowled out in exactly half of their ODIs since the start of 2022. Buttler has continually said that England’s approach is the right one and that it just needs executing better, so don’t expect them to be holding anything back on the batting front. It’s the sort of style which when it does click, games will be won.
At the prices, England have potential. In the sub-markets, I’m prepared to take the unders when it comes to the Harry Brook runs line. It’s set at 24.5 but Brook made only two scores of 20 or more during the recent India tour – that’s ODIs and T20Is combined. He just doesn’t look in the right form at the moment and another early departure would be no surprise.
Champions Trophy: Carey to Carve Out Runs
For a bigger price, let’s try Alex Carey to be Australia’s top runscorer. Yes, he’ll be batting in the middle order – probably at five – but that hasn’t stopped him in this market in the past. Since Australia’s World Cup success 15 months ago, Carey has claimed top-bat honours in three of his five ODIs, including last week in Sri Lanka. He also made a Test-match 156 during that tour. It’s also notable that his last ODI in Lahore – in 2022 – saw him score 56 and land the win in this market. Odds of 6.0 look worth a small play.
Champions Trophy 2025: Australia v England Tips
England to beat Australia @ 2.0 with kwiff
Harry Brook total runs under 24.5 @ 1.8 with kwiff
Alex Carey Top Aussie Batsman @ 6.0 with kwiff
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