In a shocking development for cricket fans, Australia’s pace spearhead and white-ball captain Pat Cummins has been excluded from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad owing to incomplete recovery from a back injury. Joining him on the sidelines is opener Matthew Short, prompting selectors to unveil an updated team list with exciting replacements Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew Renshaw.
The tournament, set to ignite from February 7 to March 6 across India and Sri Lanka, sees Australia grouped with Ireland, Oman, hosts Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. Tony Dodemaide, the chief selector, justified the changes by highlighting Dwarshuis’s versatility. ‘Ben is primed to fill Pat’s shoes. His left-arm swing bowling at good pace, coupled with sharp fielding and lower-order hitting, aligns perfectly with expected conditions and our strategy,’ he explained.
Dodemaide praised Renshaw’s recent form: ‘Matt’s been outstanding in white-ball roles for country and club. He’ll anchor the top order in Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy environment and add depth to the middle order. Meanwhile, Tim David’s gearing up post-injury.’
Josh Hazlewood takes charge of the bowling unit, with Bartlett, Ellis, and the newcomer Dwarshuis providing firepower. Expect significant contributions from Green’s and Stoinis’s all-round prowess. The full squad, led by Mitchell Marsh, includes Bartlett, Connolly, David, Dwarshuis, Green, Ellis, Hazlewood, Head, Inglis, Kuhnemann, Maxwell, Renshaw, Stoinis, and Zampa.
As Australia adapts to these setbacks, the focus shifts to seamless integration of new blood, setting the stage for a competitive campaign in Group B.