Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins will miss next month’s T20 World Cup due to a persistent back injury. Ben Dwarshuis has been named as his replacement. Cummins was initially included in the provisional squad, hoping to join in the Super Eight stage.
Cummins played only one of the five Ashes Tests against England but was retained in the squad in anticipation of his recovery. Selector Tony Dodemaide said Dwarshuis offers left-arm pace, strong fielding, and lower-order hitting. The squad aims to balance pace, spin, and batting depth for Sri Lanka’s conditions.
Read more: ICC announces match officials for T20 World Cup group stage
Matt Renshaw also joins the squad, replacing Matthew Short. Veteran Steve Smith could not break into the final squad despite strong Big Bash League form. Dodemaide noted Renshaw adds middle-order support and a left-handed batting option to the team.
Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, is currently playing a three-match T20 series in Pakistan as part of World Cup preparations. The team will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo. Training and match play are helping the squad adjust to local conditions ahead of the tournament.
Read more: ICC releases list of iconic T20 World Cup performances
The full Australian T20 World Cup 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.