As the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 champions, Australia are expected to be in the mix for Champions Trophy glory, but will injuries to key personnel affect their chances?

Two-time winners of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy, Australia will look to add another title to their trophy cabinet.

However, even before the tournament begins, the side from Down Under have been impacted by injuries to key players, with regular skipper Pat Cummins, and pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood along with all-rounder Mitch Marsh all ruled out of the Champions Trophy. This, along with the surprise retirement of Marcus Stoinis, has forced Australia to call-up several back-up players.

Despite all this, the Aussies still have a number of experienced campaigners to call upon in the tournament.

Veteran star Steve Smith, fresh off a Test series win in Sri Lanka, will lead them in the Champions Trophy. Along with Smith, explosive all-rounders Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell, who played a crucial role in Australia's Cricket World Cup 2023 triumph, will also be key to their chances. Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey and Adam Zampa are other experienced names in the outfit.

Player to Watch: Travis Head

The hard-hitting Head has been instrumental to Australia's success across formats in recent years, confirmed recently when he claimed the Allan Border Medal as the country's most outstanding cricketer in the 2024 calendar year.

He was the star performer in Australia's 2023 Cricket World Cup campaign, starring in the semi-final and final wins against South Africa and India respectively, and will be expected to play a similar role in Pakistan and the UAE.

The 31-year-old averaged 82 in a four-match series in England in September last year, his most recent taste of white-ball cricket.

Head is ranked 12th in the ICC Batting Rankings.

Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly

Group Stage Fixtures:
22 February - Australia v England, Lahore
25 February - Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi
28 February - Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore