Australia has announced a last-minute update to their T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Pat Cummins will not participate due to an ongoing back injury. He is being replaced by left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis, while Matt Renshaw takes the place of Matthew Short, who has been dropped.
Although Cummins was initially included in the provisional squad with hopes he would recover, his lower back issues necessitated a longer recovery time. He hasn’t played competitive Cricket since the Adelaide Test against England in mid-December and is now expected to return after the tournament.
Regarding Dwarshuis, Australia selector Tony Dodemaide explained that the team sought a pace option capable of swinging the ball and making contributions both in the field and with the bat.
“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who offers left-arm pace as well as dynamic fielding and hitting late in the order. His ability to swing the ball at good speed and offer varied bowling will suit the expected conditions and overall squad structure,” Dodemaide said.
Renshaw replaces Short thanks to his spin-oriented game and strong recent form, which could help the 2021 champions adapt to conditions in the Indian subcontinent. Dodemaide shared his thoughts on this decision.
“Matt has shown impressive skills across formats recently, including multiple roles in white-ball cricket for Australia, the Queensland Bulls, and the Brisbane Heat. As a left-hander, he brings a different dynamic to the middle order,” Dodemaide noted.
Smith excluded despite strong Big Bash League performance
The decision to leave out Steven Smith from the final World Cup squad, despite his strong showing in the Big Bash League, indicates a clear direction from Cricket Australia. Smith last played a T20I for Australia in February 2024 and has not been part of the T20 setup since then.
Australia’s updated T20 World Cup 2026 squad
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.
