LAHORE, Pakistan, Feb 21 (Agencies): The two-time Champions Trophy winners, Australia, are ready to start their campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Ashes rivals England on Saturday.
While Australia are the only team besides India to win the Champions Trophy twice-after lifting the silverware back-to-back in 2006 and 2009-they have since been unable to secure a single win in the tournament for the last 15 years.
They have played six matches in the competition after their win in the final of the 2009 edition, losing three, while the other three ended in no result. So before the Steve Smith-led Aussies even think of earning the white blazer of champions on March 09, they will first have to break their winless streak against England on Saturday.
Since their catastrophic 2023 World Cup campaign, England, who are currently coached by Brendon McCullum in all forms, have failed to win an ODI series.
The Jos Buttler-led team just suffered a 0-3 loss against India, as they looked unprepared and were unable to compete with the home team.
Both teams will be eager to make their mark in this ICC showpiece event.
England skipper Jos Buttler expects Australia to pose a tough challenge when they meet in a Champions Trophy Group B clash in Lahore on Saturday, despite missing their pace trio.
Australia's campaign in the eight-nation Champions Trophy was hit hard after their regular skipper Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were ruled out due to ankle and hip injuries.
To add to their woes, spearhead Mitchell Starc withdrew from the event on personal reasons while Mitchell Marsh, suffering a back injury, and Marcus Stoinis shockingly retired from one-day internationals.
Experienced batter Steve Smith will take over as captain with an inexperienced pace attack, but Buttler did not underestimate the traditional rivals.
"They have been a real pillar of success for Australia for a long period of time, so naturally there'll be a miss for their team," Buttler told a news conference on Friday.
"But they've got some top players to step into those shoes as well and Australia always over time have performed very well in ICC tournaments.
"We expect a really tough challenge."
Australia's pace attack will be led by Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis and Ben Dwarshuis, while spinner Tanveer Sangha supplements Adam Zampa in spin bowling.
"England and Australia, there's always a great rivalry and a competitive match. And obviously, in the Champions Trophy format, each game is really a massive game," Buttler told reporters.
"So, we look forward to it."
Buttler said fast bowler Jofra Archer is fit and raring to go.
"He's been fit and firing now for... 18 months or so since being out of the game for a while. So, he's really excited to put together a performance," he said of the 29-year-old pacer.
Meanwhile, Adam Zampa wants new heroes to emerge from the Australian squad at the Champions Trophy to cover the "big loss" of the team's champion pace trio.
With captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood injured, and Mitchell Starc ruled out for personal reasons, spinner Zampa is the last senior bowler left in a much-depleted squad for the ODI tournament in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Zampa could not recall the last time the world champions went to a major ICC tournament without at least one of the three quicks steaming in, and suggested it was quite an adjustment.
"Most ICC events that we've played over the last -- almost decade -- it's been a very similar bowling attack," said the 32-year-old legspinner.
