Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of next month’s T20 World Cup due to a persistent back injury. Ben Dwarshuis has been named as his replacement in the squad.
Cummins played only one of the five Ashes Tests against England, but selectors had kept him in the provisional T20 World Cup squad hoping he could return for the Super Eight stage in India and Sri Lanka.
Selector Tony Dodemaide said, “With Pat Cummins needing more time to recover, Ben Dwarshuis is a ready replacement. He offers left-arm pace, strong fielding, and late-order hitting. He fits the squad balance and conditions expected in the tournament.”
Alongside Dwarshuis, Matthew Renshaw replaced batter Matthew Short. Veteran Steve Smith, despite his strong form in the Big Bash League, did not make the final squad.
The Mitchell Marsh-led team is currently playing a three-match T20 series in Pakistan as part of their preparation for the T20 World Cup. Dodemaide noted, “With a settled top order and spin-heavy conditions expected in Sri Lanka, Renshaw provides extra middle-order support. His left-handed batting adds variety.”
Renshaw scored 15 runs in his T20 debut for Australia in Thursday’s match against Pakistan in Lahore.
Australia will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo. The full squad includes Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Xavier Bartlett, Josh Hazlewood, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Matthew Kuhnemann, Ben Dwarshuis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Nathan Ellis, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.
In other related news also read Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
Selectors will rely on experienced bowlers and versatile batsmen to tackle the challenging conditions in India and Sri Lanka. Pat Cummins’ absence is a setback, but Australia hopes the squad can deliver strong performances in the upcoming tournament.
