Sat Feb 22 08:21:50 UTC 2025: ## England Spring Surprise XI for Champions Trophy Opener Against Australia

**Lahore, Pakistan** – England will field a surprising lineup in their opening Champions Trophy 2025 match against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, February 22nd. The match, beginning at 2:30 PM IST (9:00 AM GMT), will see the return of pace trio Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Brydon Carse to the starting XI. Coach Brendon McCullum further shocked fans by selecting wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to bat at number three.

The toss is scheduled for 2:00 PM IST. The match will be broadcast live on Star Sports and Sports18 channels in India, and streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.

Australia will be captained by Steve Smith and features a strong batting lineup including Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. England’s captain, Jos Buttler, will lead a team including key players such as Joe Root and Harry Brook. The full squads for both teams have been announced. Details on the pitch report and weather conditions are expected closer to match time.

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