In a crushing pre-tournament development, Australia has lost Josh Hazlewood to injury for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The event begins this weekend across Sri Lanka and India, but the star fast bowler won’t feature after failing to shake off fitness niggles.
The injury timeline traces back to a hamstring tear in Sheffield Shield action pre-Ashes, forcing him out of the England Tests. An Achilles issue emerged during recovery, derailing his World Cup preparations. Matchless since mid-November, Hazlewood was a squad wildcard who trained separately in Sydney upon team arrival in Sri Lanka.
Selectors pulled the plug five days ahead of the Ireland clash on February 11. Tony Dodemaide explained, ‘Our plan was Super 8 fitness for Josh, but medical updates indicate further delay. Pushing now would be reckless.’ No immediate substitute will be called; the panel eyes ongoing needs.
Hazlewood’s T20 credentials are impeccable. Absent from the format for nearly four years, he was pivotal in Australia’s 2021 triumph, dismantling New Zealand in the final with three wickets for 16. His career stats: 133 scalps at 20.44 average, 7.57 economy.
With Pat Cummins also nursing knocks, pace relies on Bartlett, Dwarshuis, and possibly reserve Abbott. Positives include potential returns from Ellis, David, and confirmed fitness of Zampa. The Netherlands warm-up fell through, yet six days remain before Ireland.
Skipper Marsh remains upbeat. ‘Stoinis, Green, Kuhnemann, and Zampa give us versatility. We’re locked in,’ he said. Australia’s campaign hangs in balance, but depth and leadership could carry them through this paceman purge.