Champions Trophy 2025: Australia add 21-year-old sensation ahead of India clash as Matthew Short replacement

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Australia's Champions Trophy 2025 campaign has encountered a significant shift, with all-rounder Cooper Connolly stepping in for the injured Matthew Short.

Short sustained a thigh injury during the rain-affected match against Afghanistan in Lahore, where he managed a brisk 20 runs despite evident discomfort.

Captain Steve Smith expressed concerns about Short's recovery after a match in the Champions Trophy.

"I think he'll be struggling. I think we saw tonight he wasn't moving very well. I think it's probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover," Smith said.

In response to Short's injury, selectors have turned to Cooper Connolly, a promising young talent who has been serving as a travelling reserve. Australia will be playing India in the semifinal on Tuesday in Dubai and Connolly will be in contention for selection into the playing team.

Who is Cooper Connolly?

Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Connolly has been a standout performer in domestic cricket.

He captained the Australian U-19 team in the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. His domestic performances, particularly in the Big Bash League for the Perth Scorchers, have been noteworthy as he scored 351 runs last season.

Connolly has so far played 3 ODIs, 2 T20Is and 1 Test match in his short career. The 21-year-old is known mainly for his batting and his performance for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL played a big part in the selection.

Australia updated squad Champions Trophy 2025

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