Australia suffered a major setback ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out due to a lingering hamstring injury.
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New Delhi: The Australian cricket team has suffered a major setback just before the start of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Experienced fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury. Cricket Australia issued an official statement stating that Hazlewood had not fully recovered from his hamstring injury and was therefore unable to return to fitness in time.
The 35-year-old Hazlewood had been suffering from a hamstring problem for the past three months. He was initially included in the squad and was expected to be fit and back for the Super 8 stage. However, a recent medical assessment revealed that his recovery would require more time. Therefore, the decision was made to exclude him from the tournament to avoid risk.
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With Hazlewood's exit, Australia's entire experienced fast bowling attack will be absent from this World Cup. Mitchell Starc has already retired from T20 Internationals, while Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury. The absence of the three veterans is considered a major concern for Australia.
This is the first time in 15 years that the Australian team is participating in an ICC tournament without its three key fast bowlers. The previous instance was the 2011 World Cup, but the three players hadn't made their international debuts. The current situation is considered challenging in terms of both team balance and experience.
Cricket Australia selector Tony Dodemaide said that Hazlewood's return was expected, but accelerating his rehabilitation process could be risky. He also clarified that no replacement player would be announced at this time and a decision would be made if necessary.
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Australia's first match of the tournament is against Ireland on February 11. Therefore, the lack of experienced fast bowlers could impact team strategy. The young bowlers will have the additional responsibility of providing a strong start in the opening matches.
Overall, the near-complete absence of Australia's fast bowling unit ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 is considered a major blow to the team's title campaign. It remains to be seen how the Australian team, with a new bowling combination, will address this challenge.
