Aussie Disaster: Hazlewood Stalled, Cummins Scratched from 2026 World Cup
SYDNEY — The road to Colombo just got a lot steeper for the men in gold. In a crushing double blow days before their T20 World Cup 2026 opener, Cricket Australia confirmed veteran pacer Josh Hazlewood will miss the tournament’s initial stage to rehab a stubborn Achilles injury in Sydney. But the hits didn’t stop there: Test captain Pat Cummins is officially out of the entire tournament due to a lingering back issue, with left-armer Ben Dwarshuis parachuted in as his replacement.
The Medical Report: Pacers in Pain
Australia’s fast-bowling stocks are thinning faster than a Colombo pitch on day five. Hazlewood, 35, has been fighting his body all summer. After missing the start of the 2025-26 Ashes with a hamstring strain, his recovery hit a wall with this new Achilles flare-up. Instead of boarding the flight to Sri Lanka, he stays home. The plan? Get him fit for the backend of the tournament, assuming Australia survives the group stage without their line-and-length merchant.
Meanwhile, the Cummins news hits harder. The back injury that has nagged him since January finally forced a call. Dwarshuis, the Sydney Sixers stalwart, steps into the 15-man squad, offering a left-arm angle but lacking Cummins’ big-match aura.
“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.” — Tony Dodemaide, National Selector
Next Man Up: The Abbott & Dwarshuis Factor
While Hazlewood rehabs, Sean Abbott joins the traveling party as a reserve. Abbott has been hot lately, featuring heavily in the recent Pakistan series, and his ability to clear the ropes late in an inning gives Mitch Marsh options. But the pressure now shifts to the fresh faces. Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis aren’t just support acts anymore; they are the main event alongside Marsh and Stoinis.
Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis, and Tim David are currently en route to Colombo, linking up with the squad Tuesday. They missed the Pakistan tour but will be thrown straight into the fire for the warm-up clash against the Netherlands on Thursday, February 5.
T20 World Cup 2026: Australia’s Path to Glory
Placed in Group B, Australia faces a tricky schedule on the spinning decks of Sri Lanka. They can’t afford a slow start.
- Feb 11: vs. Ireland (R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)
- Feb 13: vs. Zimbabwe (R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)
- Feb 16: vs. Sri Lanka (Pallekele Stadium, Kandy)
- Feb 20: vs. Oman (Pallekele Stadium, Kandy)
Official Australia Squad (T20 World Cup 2026)
Captain: Mitch Marsh
Batter/All-Rounders: Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Matthew Renshaw.
Keepers: Josh Inglis.
Bowlers: Adam Zampa, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Ben Dwarshuis (replacing Cummins), Josh Hazlewood (delayed arrival).
Traveling Reserve: Sean Abbott.
