Ricky Ponting Reveals Mitchell Marsh’s Replacement For Champions Trophy 2025

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has made a shocking call to bring an uncapped all-rounder to replace injured Mithell Marsh for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. The ninth edition of the event is less than two weeks away.

Marsh, who struggled in the five-match Test series of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, has been sidelined for the rest of the season. He can be a key member ofin their limited-overs set-up with bat and ball.

Australia’s injury concerns

Australia still has a week to announce the replacement. There are also injury clouds over the position of their captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The former is part of the two ODIs in Sri Lanka as a preparation for the competition. But having not started his bowling yet, he is unlikely to do so.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma Told To Decide Future By BCCI After Champions Trophy 2025

The same is true of Hazlewood, who was injured and out of the last three Tests of the home summer against India. The lanky pacer has a new hip injury before the eight-team tournament.

Ricky Ponting names Mitchell Marsh’s replacement

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has thrown a left-field name into the mix to go with uncapped all-rounder Mitch Owen. The aggressive batter equaled the fastest BBL hundred in 39 deliveries during the final of the 2024-25 season. He ended the campaign with 452 runs in 11 innings for the Hobart Hurricanes at a strike rate of 203.60.

“I'm not sure which way they'll go, to be honest. I don't know if you guys have been watching the BBL (Big Bash League), but we've had one young kid that's just emerged out of nowhere, a kid called Mitch Owen, who has opened the batting for the Hobart Hurricanes.” Ricky Ponting addressed this during the latest episode of the ICC Review.

Owen has featured in 13 List A innings to manage 129 runs at an average of less than 12 with the best score of 29. After the end of that 20-over competition, he won a contract with the Paarl Royals in the SA20 to be Joe Root’s replacement.

“He's also an all-rounder, probably more suited (as a replacement for Marsh. I mean, Mitch Marsh has batted in the top three in one-day cricket, mostly in the last couple of years anyway.” Ricky Ponting added.

“Mitch Owen has opened the batting in T20 cricket and opened the batting for Tasmania in the (domestic ODI competition) Marsh Cup this season, which is our 50-over format.” The former World Cup-winning captain noted.

The ex-Australia Captain is not convinced with this player’s selection

Ricky Ponting believes that it will be a huge gamble for the selectors but the Owne can be trusted to stand up to his challenge if given the nod. He also felt that Cameron Green’s injury could push the youngster for the selection.

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Green has been out of competitive games since September 2024 with an injury. He missed the entire home season due to a lower-back stress fracture. The Tasmanian wasn’t convinced of Green earning a place in the Australian set-up for the Champions Trophy.

“Cameron Green (is) just starting to come back from injury as well. I don't think he's going to be fully fit for that tournament, either. So there are already a couple of holes in that Australian middle-order that need to be filled pretty quickly.” Ricky Ponting concluded.

Australia still has around a week to name the replacement for the Champions Trophy 2025. Their first game of the event will be against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.