Follow UsBe it the ODI World Cup, the T20 World Cup or the World Test Championship, Australia have been the team to beat in these ICC events this century, but the same can’t be said about their performances in the Champions Trophy.
The Men in Yellow didn’t win a single game in the last two editions of the tournament and would be eager to turn things around when they take on England in their first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Lahore on February 22 (Saturday).
Steve Smith, who is leading Australia in injured Pat Cummins’ absence, said his team has a recent history of taking some time before finding the right groove in the ICC events, something they can’t afford to do in the Champions Trophy because of the format of the tournament.
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Australia lost their first two fixtures before finding their groove and going on a nine-match winning streak. Despite losing their first two games, Australia went on to lift the title. However, Australia can’t do that in the Champions Trophy, with each team playing only three group matches, and Smith knows that.
“I think the pressure of big tournaments gets the best out of us as a team - I think over the last ten or so years, we probably haven't performed as well as we would have liked in the Champions Trophy. We know that sometimes in those big tournaments in World Cups, for instance, it takes us a little while to get into our groove,” said Smith.
“But we know with the Champions Trophy, it's a shorter format. You're only playing three round games, so you have to be switched on from the first one. So, our message to the group is essentially it's a quarter final to begin proceedings and hopefully that can bring the best out of our players.”
Smith didn’t shy away from accepting that their ODI World Cup title won’t matter much in this tournament. “I think it's irrelevant really, it's another event. As I sort of alluded to before, you've got to be focused from that first game. I think in our last World Cup we were a bit slow to get started, we were really under the pump and then we brought our best cricket towards the back end of the tournament which I think is what you need in World Cups.
“Champions Trophies are a lot different. Obviously the eight best sides at the moment are here. You can't be slow to get started. You've got to get right into your work from the outset. So yeah, that's our message to the group and the guys are excited about getting started tomorrow night against England out here."