Star Players Injured Ahead of World Cup 2025 Semis
Find out which players are injured, their recovery timelines, and how it affects match squads and fantasy picks. Updated regularly for all formats.
With the tournament reaching its climactic semifinal stage, several marquee players are sidelined with lingering injuries, forcing team management to reshuffle plans and strategies.
Australia’s frontline depleted
Australia have been hit hard by injuries to three of their premier fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc all ruled out due to various fitness issues. Combined, they account for a staggering 1,692 international wickets, leaving a significant void in their bowling attack. Captain Steve Smith has had to rely on fringe and backup seamers Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis to step up in the semis. Such a depleted pace battery could severely hamper Australia’s ability to control the middle overs and defend totals under pressure.
England’s ongoing injury woes
England aren’t unscathed either. Heather Knight, the former captain and pivotal middle‑order batter, remains sidelined with a hamstring tendon injury sustained during a T20 sweep of the West Indies. With Knight unlikely to return before the final, England must readjust their batting lineup. Additionally, fast bowler Mark Wood is battling a knee issue that may require surgery, further intensifying England’s injury challenges.
Impact on team strategy
These absences are more than just missing names; they influence team dynamics tactically. Australia must reengineer their bowling plans, possibly stacking up all‑rounders like Aaron Hardie and spinners such as Tanveer Sangha to fill the void. Meanwhile, England may promote lower order batters into more prominent roles and manage wicket‑to‑wicket transitions carefully without Knight’s middle‑order stability.
In short, as the World Cup 2025 semifinals approach, both Australia and England are grappling with critical lineup uncertainties due to injuries decisions now hinge on squad flexibility and depth.