As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, the Australian cricket team find themselves navigating a complex web of injury management and tactical reshuffling. With the tournament set to take place across India and Sri Lanka starting February 7, the biggest question on fans’ minds is the availability of veteran pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood. Known for his metronomic precision and ability to squeeze batters in the powerplay, Hazlewood’s presence is vital for a team already missing key leadership figures.
Josh Hazelwood’s availability for T20 World Cup 2026
The latest reports from the Australian camp suggest a cautious start for the ‘Bendemeer Bullet.’ Hazlewood is likely to miss the opening matches of Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. While he has been included in the official 15-man squad, he remains in Sydney to continue his rehabilitation for a persistent Achilles injury. This injury was a secondary setback that occurred while he was recovering from a previous hamstring strain.
National selector Tony Dodemaide confirmed that the medical staff decided it was “more practical and beneficial” for Hazlewood to rehab in a familiar environment rather than enduring the rigors of early-tournament travel. While there is no definitive date for his arrival in Sri Lanka, the hope is that he will join the squad for the latter half of the group stages. To mitigate the risk, the experienced Sean Abbott has been named as a traveling reserve. Abbott provides a versatile option, fresh off the recent Pakistan tour, ensuring the pace battery isn’t left short-handed when Australia begin its quest against Ireland on February 11.
“We felt with Josh it was more practical and beneficial for him to continue his rehabilitation at home in a familiar environment before travelling to Sri Lanka. With Nathan also completing his return to play we decided to bring Sean with us as fast bowling cover should anything come up at short notice. Sean is an accomplished and versatile international player who has experienced numerous World Cup campaigns. It made sense for him to stay with the group following the Pakistan tour.” Dodemaide was quoted as saying ESPNcricinfo.
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Australia’s finalized squad for T20 World Cup 2026 and injury concerns
The road to the 2026 trophy has been rocky for the 2021 champions. In a major blow to their aspirations, star pacer Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to a lingering back injury. Selectors have turned to left-armer Ben Dwarshuis as his replacement, citing his clever variations as a key asset for subcontinental pitches. Additionally, the squad has seen a shift in the batting order, with Matthew Renshaw replacing Matthew Short to provide more middle-order stability and a left-handed point of difference.
The squad remains a mix of high-stakes gambling on fitness and tactical spin depth. While Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis, and Tim David have arrived in Colombo to link up with the team, all three have been managing their own injury scares—ranging from Maxwell’s ankle recovery to David’s hamstring issues. Under the captaincy of Mitchell Marsh, Australia is leaning heavily on a ‘spin-heavy’ strategy, including the likes of Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Cooper Connolly to navigate the turning tracks of Sri Lanka.
Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Mitchell Marsh (c), 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 and Adam Zampa
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