Huge Blow For Australia! Mitchell Marsh Ruled Out Of Champions Trophy 2025

Mitchell Marsh ruled out [Source: @ShamimSports/X.com]

Australia have suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out due to ongoing lower back pain. Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the news, stating that Marsh's rehabilitation process has not yielded the expected results, forcing him to withdraw from the tournament.

The Champions Trophy is set to begin next month in Pakistan and the UAE, with Australia's first match scheduled against England on February 22. The team now faces the challenge of naming a replacement before the February 12 deadline for finalising squads.

Mitchell Marsh has been struggling with back issues for a while. He was dropped from Australia's Test squad before the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India and has barely played since. His only recent appearance was a single BBL match for the Perth Scorchers earlier this month.

Although some reports speculated that Marsh might be dealing with stress fractures, Cricket Australia has denied this, instead attributing his absence to persistent lower back pain. The selectors and medical staff determined that an extended period of rest and rehabilitation was necessary for his long-term fitness.

Steve Smith Likely To Captain Australia In Champions Trophy

With Pat Cummins managing an ankle issue and expecting the birth of his second child, Mitchell Marsh was seen as the likely ODI captain for the Champions Trophy. Now, with Marsh out, Australia may turn to Steve Smith, who is currently leading the Test team.

Australia’s Preliminary Squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

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