Cricket enthusiasts were left stunned as Australia announced their revised squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, confirming the absence of star captain Pat Cummins and batter Matthew Short. Cummins’s back troubles persist, while Short was overlooked, leading to inclusions of Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew Renshaw in a bid to fortify the side for the India-Sri Lanka extravaganza running February 7 to March 6.
Tony Dodemaide pulled no punches in his assessment. ‘Pat requires additional recovery time, making Ben an ideal stand-in. His left-arm pace, swing, variations, fielding acumen, and big-hitting make him a multifaceted asset for our pace attack and tail-end firepower,’ the selector noted.
Renshaw earns his spot through consistent performances. ‘He’s shone in recent white-ball outings for Australia, Queensland, and Brisbane Heat. Perfect for Sri Lanka’s spin-friendly group stage, he’ll stabilize the top and support the middle order. Tim David’s return program is on track,’ Dodemaide elaborated.
Hazlewood spearheads the bowling, backed by Bartlett, Ellis, and Dwarshuis, while all-rounders Green and Stoinis shoulder extra responsibility. Drawn in Group B with Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, Australia banks on captain Mitchell Marsh to lead the charge.
Squad details: Marsh (c), Bartlett, Connolly, David, Dwarshuis, Green, Ellis, Hazlewood, Head, Inglis, Kuhnemann, Maxwell, Renshaw, Stoinis, Zampa. This strategic pivot underscores Australia’s depth and resolve ahead of the global showdown.