Champions Trophy: Glenn Maxwell backs West Australian Aaron Hardie to become a match-winner for national team

Australia will lean on a series of fresh faces to become match-winners at the Champions Trophy and Glenn Maxwell is backing West Australian Aaron Hardie to be one of them. The reigning one-day world champions kick off their campaign in Pakistan on Saturday against old rivals England. But their bid for their first Champions Trophy title since 2009 will happen without any of their frontline fast bowlers, or top all-rounders Mitch Marsh, who is injured, and Marcus Stoinis, who quit one-day cricket two weeks out from the tournament. Hardie has become so important in Australia’s plans, they experimented with the West Aussie as a new-ball bowler during two practice matches against Sri Lanka last week. The 26-year-old opened the bowling in both of those matches. He took 2-13 in a blistering spell in the first game and 1-60 in the second. “Anyone with a couple of strings to their bow is extremely important in these sorts of conditions,” Maxwell told The West Australian. “You might go through a lot of bowling changes, there might be a lot of one or two-over spells where we are chopping and changing the bowling line-up quite a bit, much like we did in 2023 (World Cup). “A guy like Hards, he is super flexible and someone we have seen do a great job, even recently in the England series over there, he batted beautifully at the back-end of the innings and we know what he can do at the top of the order as well. “His bowling has been a bonus, he has been able to open the bowling for us in a couple of, it’s a nice package to have.” Hardie’s role in Australia’s batting order is still up in the air. He batted at No.6 in the first match and No.7 in the other, but players have made it clear on the eve of the tournament they will have some batters floating through the order, including Maxwell and captain Steve Smith. That pair are the most experienced players in Australia’s squad. Maxwell revealed he will be tasked with taking the game deep and controlling the “back-end overs”, while Smith has hinted he could change his position depending on whether they bat first or second. Evening dew in Pakistan has already played a part in the tournament’s opening matches and Australia are planning for it to be a factor. “One day I might be three, one day I might be four – we’ll see,” Smith told Cricket Australia’s channels on Friday. “It might change from batting first to second as well, depending on what we want to do and what we’re chasing and what we’re trying to achieve. “I think dew is going to be a huge part in the back end of the second innings, whether we want to load up the back end a little bit more. “There’s different scenarios that we can go down, but we’re going to be flexible and adaptable throughout.” Maxwell described Smith as a “very good cricket brain” and said they would need him to “bat a long period of time for us”. But he will also captain the side in the absence of Pat Cummins and Marsh. “His leadership is brilliant, I always love playing under Steve and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes,” Maxwell said. England has named a three-pronged pace attack of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Brydon Carse for the clash, showing their cards with an early team reveal. They have also listed wicketkeeper Jamie Smith to bat at No.3 in a surprise move at the expense of Phil Salt. ICC Champions Trophy – it’s on Prime. All ICC Champions Trophy matches are available to Prime members in Australia at no additional cost to their membership.