Australia’s young all-rounder Cooper Connolly opened up about his experience in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final, recalling his contest with India’s Mohammed Shami and his maiden ODI wicket.
Connolly, who recently earned his Test cap during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, was thrust into a crucial role in the tournament following Matthew Short’s injury. The 21-year-old was tasked with opening alongside Travis Head in the high-stakes clash against India.
However, his innings was short-lived as Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami dismissed him early with a brilliant outswinger during the powerplay. Reflecting on the moment, Connolly acknowledged Shami’s class and experience.
“Shami is a world-class player for a reason. He’s played a lot of cricket. In the end, it was a great game of cricket, and I think we took a lot of learnings as a group from that,” Connolly told ICC.
Bouncing Back with the Ball After Dismissal From Mohammed Shami
Despite an early setback with the bat, Connolly made a significant impact with the ball. He nearly dismissed Rohit Sharma in the second over but dropped a crucial catch. However, he remained focused and moved on quickly.
“It’s the game of cricket. You’re going to miss out, you’re going to drop a catch – you’ve got to get on with what’s in front of you. That (drop off Rohit) was completely out of my mind by the time I was bowling. I was just trying to compete as much as I could and hopefully get a breakthrough for the team,” Connolly added.
A Milestone Moment and Future Aspirations
Connolly eventually had his moment when he claimed the prized wicket of Rohit Sharma, marking his first ODI scalp. The young cricketer, who has been steadily making his mark on the international stage, expressed his excitement about playing in the Champions Trophy and his aspirations moving forward.
“Getting my Baggy Green and then to play a game in the Champions Trophy, it was a dream come true … hopefully there’s plenty more to come,” he said.
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Confident in his ability, Connolly believes he has rightfully earned his place in the Australian squad and is focused on continuous improvement.
“I felt like it wasn’t really a surprise. I felt like if I was going to play, I’d earned my opportunity. I guess it’s just about concentrating on what’s in front of me at the moment, not looking too far ahead, and just trying to enjoy playing cricket and hopefully put some scores on the board. Hopefully, work on my bowling a bit and get an opportunity again,” Connolly concluded.
