Despite being part of the test squad for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka 2025, the pace-bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott has been omitted from the Australia squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025.
Abbott was realistic in assessing his absence from the Champions Trophy, having been part of the ODI World Cup 2023 title, after struggling to make an impact in his last two series.
In five outings, England and Pakistan he took one wicket at an economy rate of 7.36. He will be in the selectors’s thoughts should replacements be needed, but Nathan Ellis has taken the spot as the fourth quick behind the big three.
“I didn’t really take selection out of the selectors’ hands,” said Abbott ahead of Sixers’ clash against Adelaide in BBL 2024-25.
“I didn’t perform and bowl as well as I would have liked in my last five games for Australia over in the UK and back home here against Pakistan.
“My goal at all times when I play is to obviously contribute and do what I need to do for the team, but on top of that, it’s [to] take the decision to drop you out of the selectors’ hands, and I haven’t done that.”
“So that’s fair. The guys who have been picked are in form and I think we’ve got a great squad to go over and compete for the Champions Trophy.”
Three quick pacers has been named for Sri Lanka tests including Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
Abbott was officially part of the final two matches of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, but Starc, Cummins and Boland are picked over for melbourne and Sydney games.
His chance remains go with just one frontline quick in Galle and use Beau Webster’s medium pace to supplement, but Abbott he has a skillset which could be valuable.
“It would have been nice to debut out here the other day [against India] on what was a bowler-friendly wicket,” he said with a smile.
“Sri Lanka typically is more spin-friendly than anything, but I feel like conditions might suit me perhaps more than others. But, again, we’ve got such depth with our bowling at the moment.
“It gets mentioned a lot, but every time Scotty comes in and bowls, no matter the conditions, he does well.”
“And then Starcy is obviously bowling high 140s, and then reverse swing will play a role, or being able to tie up an end so the spinners can attack, whatever that looks like.”
“Being one of only three quicks going over, I suppose I feel a little bit closer. But I certainly feel like conditions might suit the way I go about my bowling.”
Abbott, Steve Smith and Todd Murphy will be missing the BBL 2024-25 finals where Sixers assured a spot.
“It’s definitely a huge advantage if you can finish in the top two and get home game advantage for sure,” Abbott said.
Sean Abbott is the leading wicket-taker in BBL history, also played a key role in that victory with 4/43 but was criticial with himself for a final over that went for 20 and gave Ashton Turner an outside chance of heist.
“I had six more balls there at the end to bowl and didn’t really bowl anywhere near as good as I should have,” he said.
“Pretty disappointing with the way that over went and how close it ended up getting. So I’ll give myself a little bit of a rap on the knuckles for that one,” he concluded.
