Australia’s plans for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 have taken a hit as star bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out due to injury. He could not recover from his back problem and will miss the tournament starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Matthew Short has also been dropped from the squad, with Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew stepping in.
“Pat needs additional time to recover, and Ben is a great fit because he can play multiple roles in the team,” said selector Tony Dodemaide. “He can swing the ball and has smart variations that will suit the conditions and our team structure.”
“Matt (Renshaw) has shown great form across formats. He has performed well for Australia, the Queensland Bulls, and the Brisbane Heat,” Dodemaide added.
“Our top order is strong, and the conditions in Sri Lanka will support spinners. Matt will add depth to the middle order, alongside Tim David, giving us a unique option.”
Australia is placed in Group B with Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman. They will kick off their campaign against Ireland on February 11 at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
