Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Matthew Short Also Out, Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew Renshaw Get Team Entry
Australia has suffered a major setback ahead of the T20 World Cup as their experienced and fiery fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Cummins’ absence comes as a huge challenge for the Australian team, as he is regarded as one of the world’s top fast bowlers.
Alongside him, top-order batsman Matthew Short has also been left out of the squad due to fitness and form concerns. In response, Australia has made two significant changes to their 15-member squad. Fast bowler Ben Dwarshuis replaces Cummins, while batsman Matthew Renshaw takes Short’s place.
Ben Dwarshuis is a left-arm fast bowler who can also contribute with the bat in the lower order. He has claimed 50 wickets in 13 T20 Internationals so far, bringing depth and balance to Australia’s pace attack. Matthew Renshaw, on the other hand, strengthens the team’s batting line-up, providing stability in the middle order.
Australia’s first match of the T20 World Cup 2026 will be against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo. The team has been placed in Group B, alongside Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman. This group poses strong challenges, and Australia will aim to start their campaign with a convincing win.
Other key players in the Australian squad include captain Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.
Despite the setback of losing Pat Cummins, Australia’s squad maintains a balanced mix of experience and youth. The inclusion of Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew Renshaw ensures that the team remains competitive in both bowling and batting departments. The team’s focus will be on performing strongly in the group stage to secure a place in the Super 12.
With the World Cup just around the corner, Australia will need to quickly adjust to these changes and rely on their bench strength to stay in contention for the title.