By admin 
The first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is to be played between India and Australia in Dubai on Tuesday 4 March. Before this, the Australian team has suffered a major setback. Australia’s team opener Matthew Short is out of the tournament. In such a situation, Travis Head will have to start the innings with a new partner in the semi-final match against India. Although Cricket Australia has announced the replacement of Matthew Short, but that player may not get a chance in the playing eleven.
Cricket Australia wanted all-rounder Cooper Connolly as a replacement for Matthew Short. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved Cooper Connolly as a replacement for Matthew Short. Team changes in the middle of the tournament only happen when the ICC’s Event Technical Committee approves it. This is what has happened in this case as well. Young opener Jack Fraser McGurk can be seen opening the innings for Australia against India on March 4 along with Travis Head. Australia also has another option in the form of Aaron Hardy. Now it remains to be seen who they will go with.
21-year-old Cooper Connolly has played three ODIs as well as one Test and two Test matches for Australia. However, he did not get a single wicket as a bowler, while he has scored only 14 runs in international cricket. Matthew Short suffered a left quadriceps injury during the team’s last league match of the tournament against Afghanistan. He looked uncomfortable while batting. He will not recover soon. In such a situation, Cricket Australia announced a replacement.
The Australian team is as follows:
Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardy, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa and Cooper Connolly
Gill Bikram Singh