Australia beat England in the league stage of the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was enough for them to make it to the semi-final after their other matches were washed out. Here are the marks out of 10 for the Australian cricketers.
Steve Smith – 7.5/10
M: 3 | 97 runs at 48.50, SR 78, HS: 73, 1 fifty
Smith did little in the league stage barring a support cameo against Afghanistan. His 73 in the semi-final, however, reminded the world of his greatness – before moving away from the format for good. Gets half a point for delaying India’s win despite having limited resources at his disposal.
Josh Inglis – 9/10
M: 3 | 131 runs at 131.00, SR 134, HS: 120*, 1 hundred | Ct: 3
The stunning innings in the opener to help Australia pull off a record chase against England was enough to win him nine points. Against India, he could not convert his brisk start.
Alex Carey – 9.5/10
M: 3 | 130 runs at 65.00, SR 108, HS: 69, 2 fifties | Ct: 4
Played a great support act to the incredible Inglis against England. Outscored Inglis for a dangerous-looking 61 against India before he was brilliantly run out. At least two of his four catches were brilliant.
Travis Head – 5/10
M: 3 | 104 runs at 52.00, SR: 133, HS: 59*, 1 fifty
Head’s 40-ball 59 not out against Afghanistan would have raised some alarm bells for India. Once there, Head took time to get used to the slow Dubai surface before exploding into an array of characteristic shots to provide Australia a rapid start.
Matthew Short – 7/10
M: 2 | 83 runs at 41.50, SR: 102, HS: 63, 1 fifty | 0 wicket, Ec 3.50
Short’s 66-ball 63 laid the platform for Carey and Inglis against England. Against Afghanistan, he bowled seven tight overs and made a quick 20, and – had he remained fit – would certainly have troubled India.
Glenn Maxwell – 5/10
M: 3 | 39 runs at 39.00, SR: 195, HS: 32* | 2 wickets at 60.50, BBI: 1-28, Ec 6.31
Maxwell hastened England’s defeat with a few big blows towards the end, and had a curious six-and-out stint at the crease against India. He got two wickets in the tournament as well.
Marnus Labuschagne – 6.5/10
M: 3 | 76 runs at 38.00, SR: 94, HS: 47 | 2 wickets at 20.50, BBI: 2-41, Ec 8.20 | Ct: 3
Labuschagne impressed with the bat on both his outings without playing that one memorable innings. Gets half a point for two death-over wickets against England.
Ben Dwarshuis – 7/10
M: 3 | 19 runs at 19.00, SR: 94, HS: 19 | 7 wickets at 21.71, BBI: 3-47, Ec 5.84
Spearheading the inexperienced Australian attack, Dwarshuis finished as Australia’s leading wicket-taker of the tournament. He provided early strikes against England and India, and late wickets to dent Afghanistan’s innings. There was also a support act with the bat in the semi-final.
Nathan Ellis – 5/10
M: 3 | 3 wickets at 53.33, BBI: 2-49, Ec 5.33
Ellis did what he does best, mixing his bowling in every possible way to prevent scoring. An excellent foil for Dwarshuis, he will play more in the format in the future.
Adam Zampa – 8/10
M: 3 | 6 wickets at 28.67, BBI: 2-48, Ec 6.14
Australia’s only experienced bowler demonstrated why he is one of the best in the format. Zampa bowled largely in the middle overs with characteristic guile, and each of his six wickets was of a batter in the top five.
Spencer Johnson – 4/10
M: 2 | 2 wickets at 51.50, BBI: 2-49, Ec 6.05
The searing yorker to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz is worth one point alone, but Johnson did well in bits even other than that. Australia will find a place for him in their plans.
Cooper Connolly – 1/10
M: 1 | 0 run | 1 wicket at 37.00, BBI: 1-37, Ec 4.63
Connolly made up for his tragicomic appearance against Mohammed Shami with a tidy spell, including Rohit Sharma’s wicket, in the evening.
Tanveer Sangha – 0.5/10
M: 1 | 0 wicket, Ec 6.83
Brought into the XI in the semi-final at the spin-friendly Dubai, Sangha could neither break through nor contain runs against the Indians.
