NEW DELHI: Australia’s stand-in captain, Steve Smith, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform well in the Champions Trophy despite the absence of several key players.
Smith acknowledged that the team would be missing premier pacers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, the injured Mitchell Marsh, and the retired Marcus Stoinis. However, he viewed this as an opportunity for younger players to step up and showcase their talent on the global stage.
“We haven’t done well in the Champions Trophy compared to other ICC events but I think the pressure of playing tournaments always brings out the best in us,” Smith said.
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Smith emphasised that the pressure of playing in international tournaments often brings out the best in his team.
“I think in the Champions Trophy you have to be focussed from the start and in the last World Cup we were slow to get started and we were under the pump and then we brought our best at the backend of the tournament,” he added.
“In the Champions Trophy, you can’t be slow and that is our message to our group of players. It is basically you are playing quarterfinals from the start so you just have to be switched on.”

The stand-in captain also stressed that every match is akin to a quarterfinal, adding, “There is always pressure in international tournaments and we are obviously missing our proven fast bowlers but we are not worried thinking about it as this also offers opportunities to those who are in the team now.”
“It is a great opportunity for the younger players to showcase their talent in a world event,” he concluded.