Australian All-Rounder Mitchell Marsh Ruled Out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Due to Back Injury

The most exciting ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on February 19 in Pakistan and the UAE. The Australian star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will miss the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to lower back pain. Also, his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was doubted. 

On January 7 in the BBL 2024-25, Mitchell Marsh played his last competitive match for Perth Scorchers. Marsh was also dropped from the Australian squad for the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Sydney.

According to the reports, Cricket Australia stated that all-rounder Marsh's condition was not good in recent weeks. His rehabilitation and recovery processes have not progressed as expected. This leads the selectors to prioritize his long-term recovery. The selectors will decide on his replacement before February 12. 

Cricket Australia (CA) said: "Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men's Champion's Trophy with ongoing lower back pain and dysfunction. The National Selection Panel and Australian men's medical team ruled Marsh out of the tournament with the injury which has not responded sufficiently to rehabilitation."

🚨 Mitch Marsh has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy with a back issue

More: https://t.co/tRDaUSHYrX pic.twitter.com/ozuXcLYctT

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 31, 2025 

"His lower back pain flared in recent weeks leading the NSP to make the longer-term decision for Marsh to complete a more extended period of rehabilitation. Marsh will now undergo a period of further rest and rehabilitation as part of his return-to-play plan. The NSP will meet to decide on a replacement for Marsh in due course. The deadline for the final squads for the ICC Men's Champion's Trophy is before Wednesday 12 February."

Mitchell Marsh was the key player for Australia in the ODI squad. Since 2023, he has scored 980 runs in just 24 ODIs at an amazing average of 44.55 and he maintained an excellent strike rate of 109.1. Marsh's absence was a major setback for the Australian team in the ICC Champions Trophy. 

The Australian iconic skipper Pat Cummins is currently recovering from an ankle injury. If he doesn't regain his full fitness in time, Marsh was the first choice for Australia to lead the team in the ICC Champions Trophy. If both Marsh and Cummins were unfit before the Champions Trophy 2025, Steven Smith could lead Australia. 

Australia Squad 

Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis (squad yet to be finalized)

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