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Australia’s preparations 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Suffering major setback, captain and chief fast bowler Pat Cummins Withdrawn from major events due to injury. Cricket Australia confirmed Cummins has not fully recovered from an ongoing back problem and will miss the matches between India and Sri Lanka on February 7.
Cummins’ absence robs Australia of a proven match-winner and leader, especially in high-pressure global events, forcing selectors to rethink their balance ahead of multi-team matches.
Steve Smith and Matthew Shaw fail to make Australia’s 2026 World Cup T20 squad
Another major talking point in Australia’s final 15-man squad announcement was the omissions Steve Smith. The clamor for Smith’s inclusion is growing after a stellar Big Bash League season, in which the former captain scored 299 runs in just six innings. He averages 59.80 points per game and has a strike rate of 167.97, which highlights his continued value in the shortest format.
The selectors’ choice to look beyond Smith despite a wealth of form suggests a clear preference for players who can offer flexibility in different roles and conditions, rather than just those who have dominated domestically of late.
Top-order batsman Matthew Short was also another notable absentee as Australia finalized their World Cup pairings. Short’s absence, coupled with Smith’s absence, highlights the selectors’ focus on team balance rather than individual statistics.
Selectors name Pat Cummins as replacement for 2026 T20 World Cup
To cope with these changes, a left-arm pacemaker Ben Devasius and all-purpose batter Matthew Renshaw Designated as replacement, adding depth to the bowling and batting departments.
Selector Tony Dodemyde explained that Devasius is the natural replacement for Cummins, given the needs of the team and the conditions expected during the match.
“With Pat needing more time to recover from a back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who provides a left-arm speed option as well as dynamic fielding and back-order batting,” Dodemed said in his official statement.
“We believe his ability to swing the ball with good rhythm and clever changes will be a perfect fit for the conditions we expect and the overall structure of the team.”
Dwarshuis’ skill set provides Australia with a diverse pace attack, especially on the slower surfaces that are expected to be present during the tournament.
Dodemade also outlined the rationale behind the selection of Renshaw, noting his adaptability to different formats and roles.
Also read: Not England! Phil Salt selects the strongest team for the 2026 T20 World Cup
“Matt has impressed in all competitions recently, including playing multiple roles in white-ball games for Australia, Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat,” he said.
“With the top order set in Sri Lanka’s pool phase and a spin-heavy situation expected, we also see Matt providing additional middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return-to-play plan in the early stages of the game. As a left-handed batsman, he also provides a bit of a difference to the middle-order batting.”
Australia are placed in Group B of this World Cup and will begin their 2026 T20 World Cup journey against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
Australia’s 15-man squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Devasius, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kooneman, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
