Ex-Australia Captain Mulls Over Star Batter’s New Role In Champions Trophy 2025

Australia’s former captain, Ricky Ponting, believes that the current 2023 ODI World Champions should look to consider the star batter and stand-in captain, Steve Smith, in a new role ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The defending champions of the ICC 50-over format are struggling with a huge list of injured players, while their all-rounder, Marcus Stoinis, took an early retirement from the 50-over format recently and will not take part in the eight-team tournament.

Australia struggles with a lack of balance

Australia will miss their regular 50-over captain Pat Cummins from the tournament, as the New South Wales pacer picked up the injury during the five-match Test series against India at home in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. They will also be without their lanky pacer, Josh Hazlewood, while Mitchell Starc took his name out of the competition.

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Mitchell Marsh picked up a back injury before the campaign and will miss the rest of the summer, as he is doubtful for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Stoinis’ retirement came as a shock for the national side.

During the recent two-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, the 2009 champions of the tournament struggled against the spinners, as none of their batters could spend time in the middle.

Ricky Ponting wants Australia to open with Steve Smith vs England

The former captain of the side claimed that with Travis Head looking curtain to open the innings at the Champions Trophy, the management could look to use Smith up the order from his regular number four position ahead of their opening clash against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 22.

It’s a role that the veteran has gone through in his career, especially for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL). Jake Fraser-McGurk averages just 14 runs from seven innings he has played in ODIs since making his debut in 2024.

“Yeah, he's making it harder and harder (for selectors to stick with Fraser-McGurk). He's not had the greatest of summers. I mean, there's just so much talent there. There's so much ability, skill, and talent that we haven't sort of seen consistently enough just yet. And that's one of the big calls (selectors) are going to have to make now as well.” Ponting expressed this during the recent episode of the ICC Review.

“Do they think about opening the batting with Steve Smith, which is something that they could think about as well, I think, because of how well he's done in white ball cricket when he has opened the batting?” He mentioned.

Ricky Ponting bets on this bowler to make a huge impact for Australia

With the absence of top-class bowlers, it will be important for the Australian side to keep faith in the young pacers, and the left-arm fast bowler, Spencer Johnson, a late bloomer at 29 years, enjoyed the minor taste of the 50-over format, with three games.

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“Spencer Johnson, I think, is someone that could have a real impact. I've been saying for the last couple of years that even in red-ball cricket or white-ball cricket, whenever Starc is done.” Ponting continued.

“We've got to make sure that we've got Spencer Johnson ready to go physically, and the one-day (match) that he's just played, he looks like he's in good shape. We know he can bowl fast. He's a very similar type of bowler to Starc. So I think he can have a big impact on the tournament.” Australia’s former captain concluded.