Colombo, Sri Lanka – Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign begins on against Ireland, but they’ll do so without star batter Tim David in the starting XI. Captain Mitch Marsh confirmed David, recovering from a hamstring strain sustained while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in December, will sit out the opener as a precautionary measure.
The news comes alongside confirmation that pace bowler Nathan Ellis has been cleared to play after overcoming his own hamstring niggle. Ellis’s availability is a significant boost to an Australian attack already depleted by the absence of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. This marks the first time since 2011 Australia will take the field at a World Cup without those three frontline quicks.
“We’ll certainly see him [David] come back into contention over the next few games,” Marsh stated during a pre-match press conference. The cautious approach with David suggests the team is prioritizing his fitness for the entirety of the tournament, rather than rushing him back for the opening match.
David’s absence opens the door for Matthew Renshaw to make his World Cup debut. Added to the squad just ten days ago following the omission of Matt Short, Renshaw has been in strong form for the Brisbane Heat in the recent KFC BBL|15 season, averaging a career-high 36 with a strike rate exceeding 150. He also recently registered his maiden T20 century, spearheading a record run chase against the Perth Scorchers.
Ellis’s return provides a much-needed boost to the Australian pace attack. He will likely lead a bowling unit that also includes Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis – who replaced Cummins in the squad – Matthew Kuhnemann, and Cooper Connolly, alongside the experienced Adam Zampa. Marsh expressed confidence in the depth of the bowling attack, noting that players like Dwarshuis and Bartlett have consistently featured for Australia over the past year.
“Over the past 12 months, guys like Benny Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett have played pretty much all our games, so we’ve got great confidence that they’ll be able to do a role for us,” Marsh said. He further emphasized the team’s preparation, highlighting that a squad of 18 to 20 players have been actively involved in matches over the last year, ensuring they are well-versed in various game situations.
Australia’s decision to allow David extra time to recover reflects a broader strategy of managing player workloads throughout the tournament. With matches against Ireland and Zimbabwe scheduled within three days of each other – and respectively – the team is keen to avoid exacerbating any existing injuries.
The team has had the benefit of observing Ireland before their clash, having arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of many other competing nations. Marsh acknowledged this advantage, stating, “We’ve been focusing on our own preparation, and it’s been nice have a longer lead in. Certain players weren’t in Pakistan (for the series prior to the World Cup), so (it’s been) getting the group together for a week. Now it’s here, we’re on the eve of the World Cup for us and we’re looking forward to it.”
Australia’s squad for the tournament includes: Mitch Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa, with Sean Abbott as a travelling reserve.
Australia’s Group Stage Fixtures
v Ireland, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (8:30pm AEDT)
v Zimbabwe, R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (4:30pm AEDT)
v Sri Lanka, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (Feb 17, 12:30am AEDT)
v Oman, Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy (Feb 21, 12:30am AEDT)
Australia’s Super Eight Fixtures
(Assuming all seeded teams qualify)
Australia (X2) v West Indies (X3), Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (Feb 24, 12:30am AEDT)
India (X1) v Australia (X2), MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (Feb 27, 12:30am AEDT)
Australia (X2) v South Africa (X4), Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, 8:30pm AEDT
All matches will be broadcast on Amazon’s Prime Video.
