Australia are set to name old guards Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and big-hitter Tim David in their provisional T20 World Cup 2026 squad despite injury concerns. Cummins returned to play Adelaide Test after missing several months of action due to injury. Hazlewood was ruled out of entire Ashes after an injury in Sheffield Shield game whereas David hurt his hamstring in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26.
"Pat will have a scan, I think in another four weeks, so that'll give us the information then on where he's at for the World Cup. He'll be named in the squad of 15, and then we'll get that information as to where he's at," McDonald said.
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The deadline to announce the provisional squads is January 2. McDonald is happy with Hazlewood’s progress as he continues to recover from the hamstring and Achilles injuries.
"Josh is returning to bowl. He looks as though he should be right in terms of possible timeframes," McDonald said.
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McDonald got injured on the Boxing Day during Hobart Hurricanes’ clash against Perth Scorchers. He played a crucial hand of 28-ball 42 before leaving the field in the run chase. The T20 star is set to have a scan on December 29.
"Not sure whether it's just pure muscle or tendon, and that'll give us a timeframe," McDonald said. "I think the timeframe will be kind on TD as well. So he should be available no matter what that injury is."
David’s stellar T20 run in 2025
David was in sensational form in 2025. Playing 56 games across leagues and T20Is, he scored 1,231 runs at an average of 39.70 and strike rate of 172.89. He scored one century and seven fifties in the calendar year. Captain Mitchell Marsh is the only Australian to cross the 1,000-run mark in T20s in 2025. David justified the promotion up the batting order with scintillating knocks. His presence will be crucial to Australia’s campaign in the mega event on Indian and Sri Lankan soil.
Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 group stage schedule
After the Ashes 2025-26, Australia are scheduled to tour Pakistan for a preparatory T20I series. In the T20 World Cup 2026, they have been placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Oman. They will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 11. All their group matches are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka.