What Is 2009 ICC Champions Trophy squads

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2009 ICC Champions Trophy squads featured 8 national teams, each naming a 14-player roster, with the tournament held in South Africa from September 22 to October 5, 2009. Australia won the tournament, defeating New Zealand in the final at Centurion.

Key Facts

8 teams participated in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy
Each squad consisted of 14 players
Tournament hosted in South Africa from September 22 to October 5, 2009
Australia defeated New Zealand in the final by 6 wickets
Tillakaratne Dilshan was named Player of the Series

Overview

The 2009 ICC Champions Trophy was the sixth edition of the ICC's premier one-day international (ODI) tournament for national teams, held in South Africa from September 22 to October 5, 2009. Eight teams qualified for the competition based on their ICC rankings, each submitting a 14-player squad approved by the International Cricket Council.

The tournament followed a group-stage format leading into semi-finals and a final, with all matches played across two South African venues: The Wanderers in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park in Centurion. Australia emerged as champions, securing their first Champions Trophy title by defeating New Zealand in the final.

Australia's squad included Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, and Mitchell Johnson, with Watson earning the Player of the Match in the final for his 57 runs and 2 wickets.
India's roster featured Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag, though they were eliminated in the group stage after losing to Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
Sri Lanka named Tillakaratne Dilshan, who scored 300 runs in the tournament, as a key all-rounder alongside captain Mahela Jayawardene and fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
South Africa, the host nation, included Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, and AB de Villiers, but were eliminated in the semi-finals by Australia.
New Zealand's team was led by Brendon McCullum and included Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori, reaching the final despite losing all group-stage games except against Sri Lanka.

How It Works

The ICC Champions Trophy squads were selected under strict ICC regulations, with each nation required to submit a finalized 14-player list before the tournament deadline in September 2009.

Eligibility: Players had to be contracted with their national board and available for international selection; injured players could be replaced before the first match with ICC approval.
Deadline: All squads were due by September 15, 2009, one week before the opening match, ensuring logistical and broadcasting preparations could proceed.
Captaincy: Each squad named one official captain, such as Ricky Ponting for Australia and Mahela Jayawardene for Sri Lanka, who led on-field decisions during matches.
Reserves: Teams could name up to two reserve players, though replacements required ICC clearance and could only occur before a player’s first game.
Player Roles: Squads balanced specialist batsmen, all-rounders, and bowlers; for example, West Indies included both Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo for batting depth and bowling variety.
Regulations: The ICC enforced anti-doping rules and squad transparency, requiring full disclosure of player names, roles, and jersey numbers prior to the tournament.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the eight participating nations' squads, highlighting key players, captains, and performance outcomes in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.

Team	Captain	Key Player	Squad Size	Final Result
Australia	Ricky Ponting	Shane Watson	14	Champions
New Zealand	Brendon McCullum	Daniel Vettori	14	Runners-up
South Africa	Graeme Smith	AB de Villiers	14	Semi-finals
Sri Lanka	Mahela Jayawardene	Tillakaratne Dilshan	14	Group Stage
India	M.S. Dhoni	Sachin Tendulkar	14	Group Stage
West Indies	Chris Gayle	Dwayne Bravo	14	Group Stage
Pakistan	Shahid Afridi	Umar Akmal	14	Group Stage
England	Paul Collingwood	Kevin Pietersen	14	Group Stage

The table illustrates that only Australia and New Zealand advanced beyond the group stage, with Australia dominating the knockout rounds. Despite strong individual performances from players like Dilshan and Watson, most teams failed to progress due to inconsistent fielding and batting collapses under pressure.

Why It Matters

The 2009 ICC Champions Trophy squads set a precedent for future international cricket tournaments, emphasizing balanced team composition and strategic player selection under pressure.

Tournament legacy: The 2009 event was the last Champions Trophy before the format was changed to include fewer teams and longer intervals between editions.
Player development: Young talents like Umar Akmal (Pakistan) and Ravindra Jadeja (India, though not in final squad) gained exposure on the global stage.
Team strategy: Australia’s use of all-rounders like Watson influenced future squad-building trends in limited-overs cricket.
Host impact: South Africa’s organization of the event helped revive international cricket in the country after security concerns in previous years.
Global reach: Broadcast in over 120 countries, the tournament increased ICC’s revenue and visibility, especially in emerging cricket markets.
Historical significance: Australia’s victory marked their first Champions Trophy win, completing a set of major ICC titles including the World Cup and World Twenty20.

The 2009 squads remain a reference point for cricket analysts and historians studying team dynamics and performance trends in high-pressure ODI tournaments.