Australia's four Champions Trophy picks that might make a difference

The Champions Trophy – the mini World Cup – is just around the corner now that the IPL is over with. Australia’s squad that was picked for the tournament is a decent one with some interesting names in the mix, apart from the usual suspects in the playing XI. Particularly, Faulkner, Voges, Mitchell Marsh and Coulter-Nile have been names that were interesting and very smart picks.

James Faulkner will be high on confidence following his ultra-successful IPL stint. He was not picked in the initial games for the Rajasthan Royals, but he didn’t let go off his spot after he was given one chance, and rightly so. He ended up being the second-highest wicket taker in the series with 28 wickets in only 16 games, at an average of 11.40. His performances against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, in particular, were noteworthy, where he picked up 5-wicket hauls both times he played against them.

If Faulkner produces some good performances, he would enter Australia’s Ashes campaign with more than just a decent amount of confidence by his side as a run-up into the Ashes. He will be raring to prove his prowess in the shorter format, already having made his mark on the large stage.

Mitchell Marsh’s inclusion in the Australian squad after more than a year was a pleasant surprise. Marsh had a hard last year where he was sent back from the Brisbane Academy of Excellence and also his fiasco at the Champions League T20 in South Africa, where he faced disciplinary action. But what earned Mitchell Marsh a place in the squad was a solid performance for Western Australia last year in the Ryobi Cup, where he amassed 278 runs at an average of 69.50, which also included his maiden century. The last ODI that Marsh was a part of was the one against South Africa in 2011.

Nathan Coulter-Nile, on the other hand, is yet to make his ODI debut. He, second to Kane Richardson, picked up 16 wickets at an impressive average of 23.18 in the Ryobi Cup last year. He is also a handy lower-order batsman, aside from being a very adept fielder. He could be a massive boost for the Australians. Having proved his case in the domestic circuit, it wouldn’t be too long before he makes his mark on the big stage.

Adam Voges, like most, wouldn’t have expected to be picked for the Champions Trophy last year, but the Big Bash League turned things around for him. He ended up being the sixth-highest run-scorer in the BBL and earned a recall into the ODI squad against the West Indies, where he scored an unbeaten century. Apart from his form, being appointed as captain of the Western Warriors post the resignation of Marcus North and the appointment of Justin Langer as coach gave him the right boost to propel in the right direction.

It is almost time and it will be interesting to see how these four talents from Down Under will fare and whether or not they will play a part in keeping Australia’s record in Champions Trophies intact, in the last one being played.

Australian Champions Trophy squad: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey (vice-capt), David Warner, Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile.