Mitchell Marsh ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 with back injury

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE, starting on February 19, because of “lower back pain and dysfunction”.

Marsh, who was dropped from the Australian Test team for the final game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney, featured in one BBL 2024-25 fixture for Perth Scorchers on January 7 but hasn’t played any competitive cricket since then.

"Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men's Champion's Trophy with ongoing lower back pain and dysfunction," CA said in a statement today.

"The National Selection Panel and Australian men's medical team ruled Marsh out of the tournament with the injury which has not responded sufficiently to rehabilitation.

"His lower back pain flared in recent weeks leading the NSP to make the longer term decision for Marsh to complete a more extended period of rehabilitation. Marsh will now undergo a period of further rest and rehabilitation as part of his return to play plan. 

"The NSP will meet to decide on a replacement for Marsh in due course. The deadline for the final squads for the ICC Men's Champion's Trophy is prior to Wednesday 12 February."

Marsh’s red-ball form wasn’t great, but his numbers in the 50-over format are quite impressive. In 24 ODIs since 2023, the right-hander has slammed 980 runs at an average of 44.55 and a strike rate of 109.1. His average as an opener in this period has been 47.38. There was also a possibility he could have opened for Australia alongside Travis Head.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is also recovering from an ankle injury, and if he wouldn’t have been fit for the 2025 Champions Trophy, there was a high possibility that Marsh would have been named the captain of the side. Now if Cummins fails to recover on time, Steven Smith could lead Australia in the Champions Trophy.