Australia received a big blow before the Champions Trophy as their formidable pace attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchel Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are ruled out of the all-important competition. 

Cummins (ankle injury) and Hazlewood (side and calf injury) were always uncertain but Starc has also withdrawn for personal reasons. 

Steve Smith will captain the team after standing in for Cummins during their two-Test thrashing of Sri Lanka this month. The 15-man squad is also without all-rounder Marcus Stonis who retired from the 50-over game last week, and Mitchel Marsh had already been omitted with a back issue.

"The squad has changed significantly over the past month on the back of some untimely injuries and the retirement of Marcus Stoinis," said chief selector George Bailey.

"The upside of that is that we have been able to call on players who have had international exposure and success over the past 12 months. A strong core of some of our most experienced players will provide a strong foundation in our attempt to win this edition of the Champions Trophy," he added.

Starc was the only member of the "Big Three" fast bowling attack to play all seven Tests against India and Sri Lanka across the current Australian summer.