AUS vs ENG Today | Australia vs England ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Match Preview, Playing XI, Fantasy Picks & Predictions, Weather Forecast, Winning Prediction

A High-Stakes Rivalry in Lahore

Australia and England, two of cricket’s most dominant forces, are set to clash in the fourth match of Group B at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With both teams struggling for form but boasting rich histories in ICC tournaments, this match in Lahore promises to be a thrilling encounter.

Both teams enter this fixture on the back of disappointing performances. Australia, the reigning ODI World Cup champions, have suffered a string of losses, including a recent 2-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka. Their batting has been underwhelming, failing to cross 200 in the last four ODIs. Compounding their woes is the absence of their world-class pace trio. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood—leaving their bowling attack inexperienced and under pressure.

England, on the other hand, had a disastrous 2023 ODI World Cup campaign and recently endured a 3-0 whitewash against India. However, with a new captain-coach pairing in Jos Buttler and Brendon McCullum, England will be eager to turn things around. The Champions Trophy is the only major ICC white-ball tournament missing from their cabinet, making this competition even more crucial for them.

Match Details

• Fixture: Australia vs England, 4th Match, Group B

• Date: February 22, 2025

• Time: 2:30 PM IST

• Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Pitch and Weather Report

The Gaddafi Stadium pitch is known for being batting-friendly, and recent matches have seen scores surpassing 300. Expect another high-scoring game with both teams looking to capitalize on the flat track.

Weather conditions will be warm, with temperatures around 25-30°C. Rain earlier in the week could have slightly altered the conditions, but dew is unlikely to play a significant role.

Team News & Probable Playing XI

Australia’s Lineup Concerns

Australia’s biggest challenge is replacing their first-choice fast bowlers. Adam Zampa will spearhead the bowling attack, while the onus will be on Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell to anchor the batting.

Australia’s Probable XI:

• Matthew Short

• Travis Head

• Steve Smith (C)

• Marnus Labuschagne

• Josh Inglis (WK)

• Glenn Maxwell

• Alex Carey

• Aaron Hardie

• Sean Abbott

• Nathan Ellis

• Adam Zampa

England’s Bold Approach

England have opted for an aggressive batting strategy, promoting Jamie Smith to No.3 while shifting Joe Root to No.4. Their pace attack, led by Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, will test the Australian top order.

England’s Probable XI:

• Phil Salt

• Ben Duckett

• Jamie Smith (WK)

• Joe Root

• Harry Brook

• Jos Buttler (C)

• Liam Livingstone

• Brydon Carse

• Jofra Archer

• Adil Rashid

• Mark Wood

Players to Watch

Spencer Johnson (Australia): The left-arm quick, standing at six feet four inches, has the daunting task of replacing Starc. He has shown glimpses of promise but needs to deliver under pressure.

Harry Brook (England): Brook has struggled recently, but Pakistan has been a happy hunting ground for him. His past performances on these pitches suggest he could be England’s game-changer.

Fantasy Cricket & Dream11 Predictions

Top Picks for Dream11 Fantasy Team

• Captain Choices: Travis Head, Jos Buttler, Glenn Maxwell

• Vice-Captain Options: Joe Root, Jofra Archer

• Batting Picks: Steve Smith, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett

• Bowling Picks: Jofra Archer, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis

• All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone

Fantasy Team Prediction:

• Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler

• Batters: Steve Smith, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Travis Head

• All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone

• Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Mark Wood

Score Prediction & Winning Odds

With a high-scoring pitch in Lahore, expect totals around 300-320 if teams bat first. Given Australia’s weakened bowling attack, England have a slight edge, especially if their top order fires. However, Australia’s batting firepower makes them a formidable opponent.

Predicted Score:

• Australia: 280-320

• England: 290-330

Winning Prediction: England have a better-balanced squad, especially in the bowling department, giving them a 55-45 advantage over Australia.

Interesting Facts

• England lead Australia 3-2 in their Champions Trophy head-to-head record.

• Glenn Maxwell and Jos Buttler are the only players from the 2013 Champions Trophy still in the current squads.

• Jofra Archer needs just two wickets to reach 50 in ODIs.

• Jamie Smith has only batted at No.3 once in 18 List A innings before this match.

Final Thoughts

Both Australia and England enter this contest with points to prove. While England look to rebuild after their World Cup debacle, Australia aim to overcome their bowling setbacks and regain confidence. With two power-packed batting lineups on a high-scoring pitch, expect a thrilling encounter that could go down to the wire.