Ashes rivals England and Australia clash in Group B of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday.

Both teams will be looking to start their campaign on a positive note despite the cricketing powerhouses coming into the tournament in disappointing form.

Australia are without the three leading pace bowlers they leaned heavily on at the 2023 Cricket World Cup with the injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood joined on the sidelines by Mitchell Starc, who opted out for personal reasons.

Steve Smith captains the side and they looked well off their best in a recent 2-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, England’s critics have been lining up to take shots at them after they suffered a 3-0 whitewash in India earlier this month.

Jos Buttler’s side have lost seven of their last nine matches to Australia in the 50–over format and will be desperate to hit back in a typically positive fashion.

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England vs Australia Champions Trophy Tips

• Australia to win – 3/4
• Steve Smith to score 50+ runs – 11/8
• Adil Rashid to be England’s top bowler – 3/1

Australia’s experience to prevail

Despite their bowling absentees, Australia still boast a formidable lineup with a mix of experience and emerging talent. Smith’s leadership and batting prowess will be crucial, while the likes of Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell provide the firepower in the middle order.

England’s recent form has been concerning, with heavy defeats in their warm-up matches against India exposing vulnerabilities in both the batting and bowling departments. The absence of Jacob Bethell due to injury further compounds their problems.

Australia’s adaptability and disciplined approach could neutralise England’s attacking play, especially if their bowlers step up in Lahore’s conditions. With a strong track record in high-pressure matches, Australia are well-positioned to start their Champions Trophy campaign with a win.

Smith set for a big innings

Smith’s importance to the Australian side cannot be overstated, particularly in the absence of other seasoned campaigners. The former Test skipper has been in excellent form in recent months and his ability to anchor the innings will be crucial against England’s bowling attack.

He struck big, back-to-back tons during the recent Test series against Sri Lanka on a pancake-flat surface in Galle, but then only made modest contributions in the subsequent ODI games.

However, he has struck three 50s at an average of 53.71 across his last nine ODI innings against England and should relish the chance to tackle Australia’s oldest rivals again.

The Lahore pitch is expected to offer good batting conditions, which should suit Smith’s technically sound approach.

With his wealth of experience and current form, the 35-year-old looks well-placed to notch up a half-century and lay the foundation for a strong Australian total.

Rashid will be key to England’s bowling hopes

Adil Rashid remains England’s most potent bowling threat, especially in subcontinent conditions. The leg-spinner’s variations and control make him a challenging proposition for even the best batters in the world.

England’s pace attack struggled in their warm-up matches against India, which puts added pressure on Rashid to deliver. The Lahore pitch is expected to offer some assistance to spinners, particularly during the day, which could play into the Yorkshireman’s hands.

With his experience and recent form, Rashid is England’s best hope of restricting Australia’s powerful batting lineup. His ability to take crucial wickets in the middle overs could be the key to England’s chances of upsetting the favourites.

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