Australia T20 World Cup Squad: Australia unveiled their 15-man T20 World Cup 2026 squad on Thursday, January 1, favouring a spin-dominated lineup. Mitchell Owen's omission stood out, with the selectors opting to bolster their spinning arsenal with four veteran options.
Cummins, Australia's Test and ODI captain, has been included in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad despite being sidelined by injury. He was joined in the squad by fellow injury-returnees Josh Hazlewood and Tim David. Hazlewood's last appearance for Australia came in the second T20I against India at the MCG on October 31, 2025, while David's Big Bash League stint was curtailed by injury.
Ausses have opted for a spin-dominated squad, with leg-spinner Adam Zampa at the forefront, supported by Matthew Kuhnemann, Cooper Connolly, and all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Short.
Australian selector George Bailey disclosed that the panel prioritised players suited to India's and Sri Lanka's conditions.
“The T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may present," Bailey said as quoted by ICC.
“Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup. This is a preliminary squad, so should changes need to be made, they will be made ahead of the support period," he added.
Australia have been placed into Group B with Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman. The Aussies kick off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 11, followed by a clash against Zimbabwe on February 13.
Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.