Australia have suffered a massive blow with news that star quick Pat Cummins will miss the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to injury as the selectors finalised their squad for the upcoming tournament by making a pair of changes.
Cummins has not recovered fully from his lingering back injury and will miss the tournament that commences in India and Sri Lanka on February 7, while top-order batter Matthew Short has also been omitted from the original 15-player squad.
Cummins played just one of the five Ashes Tests against England, but Australia kept him in the provisional World Cup squad hoping for his availability in the Super Eight stage of the tournament to be played in India and Sri Lanka.
Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis and batter Matthew Renshaw come into Australia’s 15-player squad and selector Tony Dodemaide believes the pair can perform well during the tournament that commences in India and Sri Lanka on February 7. However, veteran Steve Smith could not break into the World Cup squad despite his strong form in the Big Bash League.
“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting,” Dodemaide said.
“We believe his ability to swing the ball at good pace along with clever variations will be well suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad.
“Matt (Renshaw) has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white ball formats for Australia, the Queensland Bulls and the Brisbane Heat.
“With the top order settled and spin heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle order support, with Tim David completing his return to play program in the early phase of the tournament.
“As a left hander, he (Renshaw) also offers a point of difference to the middle order batting.”
The Mitchell Marsh-led side are currently playing a three-match T20 series in Pakistan as part of their preparation for the World Cup
The former champions begin their World Cup campaign against Ireland in a February 11 match in Colombo.
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), 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, Adam Zampa.
