Australia will kick off their Champions Trophy campaign by taking on arch-rivals England on Saturday, February 22 in Lahore. Both teams are struggling for form in ODI format. While Australia were whitewashed 2-0 by Sri Lanka, England were blanked out 3-0 by India preceding the Champions Trophy. Worst, both teams have lost a few players due to injuries and are looking slightly vulnerable.
Australia are the most affected due to injuries to Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh. The two-time CT Champions have also lost Marcus Stoinis (ODI retirement) and Mitchell Starc (unavailable due to personal reasons). Bowling is most affected for Australia. However, batting has enough firepower, with the likes of Travis Head, Steve Smith, and Josh Inglis in it.
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Champions Trophy 2025 Match 4: AUS vs ENG Pitch Report
The match will be played at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. The pitch here is expected to be a batting paradise and a graveyard for bowlers, as the two last ODI matches played here evidenced. The batters will enjoy the bounce on offer and will pepper the shorter boundaries on either side of the wicket. It will be a high-scoring game, with dew also playing a huge factor in the evening. 255 is the average first innings score here.
Champions Trophy 2025 Match 4: AUS vs ENG Weather Report
Rain is unlikely to have any interruptions during the Australia vs England game in Lahore. The climate is set to be pleasant in the evening, with temperatures set to hover around 20 to 25 degrees Celcius.
