Sydney, Jan 31 (UNI) Australia has suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with star fast bowler Pat Cummins ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury, Cricket Australia confirmed on Saturday.
Cummins has not fully recovered from the injury and will miss the global event, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7. Top-order batter Matthew Short has also been dropped from the original 15-member squad.
Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis and batter Matthew Renshaw have been included in the revised squad. National selector Tony Dodemaide said the changes were made keeping in mind player fitness and conditions expected during the tournament.
“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option, strong fielding, and late-order hitting,” Dodemaide said.
He added that Dwarshuis’s ability to swing the ball at a good pace and use variations would suit sub-continent conditions.
On Renshaw’s inclusion, Dodemaide said the left-hander has impressed across formats in recent times and provides additional middle-order depth, especially with spin-heavy conditions expected in Sri Lanka during the pool stages.
“Matt has performed well in various roles in white-ball cricket for Australia, Queensland, and the Brisbane Heat. His left-handed batting also gives the middle order a point of difference,” he said.
Australia will be led by Mitchell Marsh at the T20 World Cup as they look to reclaim the title they last won in 2021.
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Australia’s Pat Cummins misses T20 World Cup; squad revised
