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Starc withdraws from Australia's Champions Trophy squad

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4 hoursCricket

Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from Australia's Champions Trophy squad for personal reasons, leaving them without their first-choice pace attack from the 2023 World Cup victory.

Australia have already been forced to make several to their provisional squad, with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh all missing due to injury. 

Marcus Stoinis is also unavailable after announcing his retirement from ODI cricket last week and pulled out of the 15-man squad. 

Starc's absence will be a blow for Australia, having taken 244 wickets from 127 ODI games, with only Shane Warne (291), Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath (both 380) taking more. 

It leaves Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis, who have played in 37 ODIs between them, as Australia's frontline pace options.

Steve Smith will captain Australia in Cummins' absence, as he is doing in the ongoing two-match ODI series in Sri Lanka.

Australia begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England in Lahore on Saturday, February 22.  

Their other Group B fixtures include matches against South Africa in Rawalpindi on February 25 and Afghanistan in Lahore on February 28.

Chairman of selectors George Bailey said: "We understand and respect Mitch's decision.

"His well-documented ability to play through pain and adversity, as well as forgoing opportunities in other parts of his career to put his country first should be applauded.

"His loss is, of course, a blow for the Champions Trophy campaign but does provide an opportunity to someone else to make a mark on the tournament."

Australia's Champions Trophy squad

Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly.