ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Will Glenn Maxwell finally show some consistency?

Shane Watson has shown his full support for Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, backing him to dominate the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and lead the team to yet another ODI title. Maxwell, who is now 36 years old, has accumulated over 250 international caps across all formats of the game, but Watson believes that his best cricket is still ahead of him. Despite his age, Maxwell has been in stellar form, particularly in the Big Bash League, where he was named one of the two Players of the Series. This impressive performance has convinced Watson that Maxwell’s skills are in prime shape, and the all-rounder is set to play a pivotal role for Australia in the upcoming tournament.

Maxwell’s experience and versatility will be invaluable for Australia in the Champions Trophy, as he brings both batting depth and bowling options to the table. His ability to dominate with both bat and ball makes him a key asset for the team in all formats, and Watson believes that Maxwell is fully capable of leading Australia to another successful title run in the prestigious tournament. With his wealth of experience and current form, Maxwell is certainly one of the players to watch in the Champions Trophy, and Watson’s endorsement adds to the growing excitement surrounding his potential impact on the competition.

Australia heads to Pakistan as the reigning World Cup champions in the 50-over format and currently sits second in the ICC Men's ODI team rankings. However, their recent form has raised concerns, with just one win in their last five ODI matches. The absence of key bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc has further fueled doubts about their ability to defend the Champions Trophy title in Pakistan.

Australia’s bowling attack is undeniably weaker without these star bowlers, and the team will need to find a way to fill the void left by their absence. While Australia still boasts a strong batting lineup and experienced players, their ability to lift the trophy in Pakistan will depend on how well they can adapt to the conditions and address the challenges posed by missing key players.

“The stand-out player for me is Glenn Maxwell,” stated former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson. 

“With what I have seen recently, especially in the Big Bash, I believe he has some of his best cricket in front of him across the next two or three years and I would be very surprised if he does not dominate this Champions Trophy," he added.