‌CT 2025 | Jamie Smith to bat 3 as England announce Playing XI against Australia 

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ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

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England have named the playing XI for their 2025 Champions Trophy curtain-raiser against Australia. Young wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith will represent the Three Lions at the Gaddafi Stadium in his maiden ICC event and has been handed the responsibility to bat higher up the order at one-down.

England, who are coming off the back of a 3-0 whitewash against India have thickened their batting depth by including Jamie in the starting XI. The wicketkeeper-batter will be batting at a responsible No. 3, followed by Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, and Liam Livingstone. This leaves the visitors with Root and Livingstone to shoulder the responsibility of the fifth bowler alongside Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, and Brydon Carse bowling their full quota. 

Smith averages 22.16 from seven ODIs while averaging 14 in T20Is in Asia. However, he scored an 89 in Tests in Asia. England also experimented with Tom Banton at No. 3 in the third ODI against India where the right-hander blended fancy strokes with orthodox hits. 

England will be playing their first game against a depleted Australian side without their pace triumvirate of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.

England XI: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (WK), Joe Root, ⁠Harry Brook, Jos Buttler ©, Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood



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