Australia have announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup. Keeping the conditions in mind, they have decided to keep several spin options in the team. They have also picked the likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David into the team even though the three aren't fully fit and are recovering from their respective injuries.
After being ruled out of the first two Ashes Tests, Cummins had featured in the third Test but was sidelined for the remaining two games as he has not yet fully recovered from his back injury. On the other hand, Hazlewood was ruled out of the entire Ashes series after he reported achilles soreness while recovering from a hamstring injury.
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David was recently ruled out of the ongoing Big Bash League season due to a hamstring injury. The trio will be eager to make their returns in the T20 World Cup, but it remains to be seen if they will be able to fully recover before the tournament starts from February 7.
Bailey's verdict on the injured players
Australia chief selector George Bailey is confident that the three players will recover from their injuries by the time the tournament begins. He also pointed to the team's recent success and remarked that they have made the selection keeping in mind the varying conditions in India and Sri Lanka.
"The T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may present," Bailey said.
"Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup. This is a preliminary squad so should changes need to be made they will ahead of the support period. A squad for the three-game T20 series against Pakistan, which precedes the World Cup, will be named at a later date," he added.
Australia present in Group B
Australia have been drawn in Group B when it comes to the T20 World Cup. The likes of Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are the other teams present bwith them in the pool. The Baggy Greens will begin their tournament on February 11 with the clash against Ireland at the R. Premadasa styadium in Colombo.
Australia's squad for 2026 T20 World Cup: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa