Jamie Smith at No 3 for England’s Champions Trophy opener against Australia
- Joe Root moves down to No 4 in batter-heavy lineup
- Smith has batted first-drop just once in his List A career
It was as if they could not wait to share the news, England naming their XI for Saturday’s Champions Trophy opener against Australia well in advance of the toss and springing a surprise too. Jamie Smith is back from a calf injury and will keep wicket but, more eye-catchingly, he will bat at No 3.
The team emerged as Jos Buttler’s side trained under lights at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday evening and, on the eve of a major tournament, represents something curve-ball. Talented but inexperienced, Smith has batted first-drop just once in his List A career at Surrey, while Joe Root, England’s record centurion in ODI cricket, has moved down a spot.
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
Topics
-
Champions Trophy 2025: Australia’s second tier up against it in absence of bowling big three | Geoff Lemon
Their attack has a distinctly Sheffield Shield flavour to it but the main thing in the two-times winners’ favour is the relative weakness of their group. For a long time, a strange situation ...The Guardian - 18h -
Smith 'not worried' by absence of pace trio against England
Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith says he is "not worried" about the absence of his three key fast bowlers for their Champions Trophy opener against England.BBC News - 1h -
Unfamiliar faces: who has a chance to shine for Australia at Champions Trophy? | Martin Pegan
Six players with minimal international experience are at the tournament in Pakistan and can expect to play a role . Fewer than three months have passed since Australia’s Test team was seen to be in ...The Guardian - 4h -
'A huge amount to offer' - why have England promoted Smith?
Promoting Jamie Smith to bat in a position he has never filled before seems confusing, so what are England thinking and do the statistics back it up?BBC News - 3h -
Large Holes Open Up in Surrey, England; Car Teeters on the Edge
A giant hole opened up on a street in Surrey, southwest of London, forcing evacuations and leaving a car teetering on the edge. The cause was unknown.The New York Times - 1d -
Australian and New Zealand militaries are monitoring 3 Chinese warships off Australia
The Australian and New Zealand militaries are monitoring three Chinese warships that are moving unusually far south along Australia’s east coast on an unknown missionABC News - 1d -
Court drops charges against 3 people tied to the death of singer Liam Payne
A court in Argentina has dropped charges of criminal negligence against three of the five people indicted in connection with the death of Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer who fell from a ...ABC News - 20h -
New Scotland-England border landmark plan submitted
The Star of Caledonia will stand 33m (100ft) high and aim to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors.BBC News - 12h -
England not solely focused on Russell, says Itoje
We cannot focus solely on Scotland talisman Finn Russell on Saturday despite his pedigree in the Calcutta Cup, says England captain Maro Itoje.BBC News - 5h -
Is Russia Open for Business — and at What Cost?
Investors seem open to the prospect of peace talks, but Western companies face a dilemma just three years after many retreated from the country.The New York Times - 2d
More from The Guardian
-
Middle East crisis live: Israel claims Hamas killed Bibas children with their ‘bare hands’
Statement from IDF spokesman contradicts Hamas claim the family was killed in an airstrike. One of the four bodies returned by Hamas to Israel on Thursday is not that of Shiri Bibas, Israel’s ...The Guardian - 12m -
French far-right leader cancels CPAC speech over Steve Bannon’s ‘Nazi’ salute
Jordan Bardella calls off US address after former Trump aide makes controversial gesture with outstretched arm onstage. The French far-right leader Jordan Bardella on Friday morning cancelled a ...The Guardian - 1h -
Trump says he ‘had very good talks with Putin’ and again criticizes Ukraine – live
US president also accuses Kyiv of talking ‘tough’ but having few bargaining chips in latest remarks in feud with Ukrainian president Zelenskyy. National security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd ...The Guardian - 32m -
Woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann charged with stalking
Julia Wandel allegedly sent letters, calls, WhatsApps and visited family of missing girl . A woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has been remanded in custody after being charged with stalking ...The Guardian - 3h -
Apple removes advanced data protection tool in face of UK government request
Apple says removal of tool after government asked for right to see data will make iCloud users more vulnerable. Business live – latest updates Apple has taken the unprecedented step of ...The Guardian - 43m
More in World
-
Middle East crisis live: Israel claims Hamas killed Bibas children with their ‘bare hands’
Statement from IDF spokesman contradicts Hamas claim the family was killed in an airstrike. One of the four bodies returned by Hamas to Israel on Thursday is not that of Shiri Bibas, Israel’s ...The Guardian - 12m -
Trump says he ‘had very good talks with Putin’ and again criticizes Ukraine – live
US president also accuses Kyiv of talking ‘tough’ but having few bargaining chips in latest remarks in feud with Ukrainian president Zelenskyy. National security adviser Mike Waltz told a crowd ...The Guardian - 32m -
South Carolina man to be killed in US’s first firing squad execution in 15 years
Brad Sigmon, 67, chooses to be shot dead amid concerns that lethal injections have caused ‘excruciating’ pain. A South Carolina man on death row has chosen to be killed by firing squad, and if ...The Guardian - 35m -
European draws and Pep Guardiola on Haaland injury – live football news
Liverpool meet Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Arsenal could face Real Madrid in the quarter-final. A video explains just how the draw works. I was confused ...The Guardian - 39m -
Apple removes advanced data protection tool in face of UK government request
Apple says removal of tool after government asked for right to see data will make iCloud users more vulnerable. Business live – latest updates Apple has taken the unprecedented step of ...The Guardian - 43m