T20 World Cup: Australia Concerned Over Hazlewood

Australia’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup have suffered a significant blow with the news that veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the early matches of the tournament due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. This latest setback comes at a time when the Australian squad is already grappling with fitness concerns and form issues.

The 35-year-old Hazlewood has not featured in competitive cricket since November last year and was sidelined for the entire Ashes series against England. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Sydney, with the team management opting to allow him to recover in familiar conditions before joining the squad in Sri Lanka.

Selectors have indicated that there is no set timeline for Hazlewood’s return, and it remains uncertain whether he will participate in the World Cup at all. His potential absence poses a major challenge for Australia, as it would mean that the team could not field its trio of premier pacers—Pat Cummins, Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc—together during the tournament. Cummins is already ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to injury, while Starc had previously announced his retirement from T20 internationals.

In the meantime, Australia has named fellow fast bowler Sean Abbott as a reserve to join the squad if needed. The team has already arrived in Sri Lanka, where all of Australia’s Group B matches will be hosted.

Australia’s form heading into the World Cup has been less than ideal. In a recent T20 series against Pakistan, they suffered a 3–0 whitewash, culminating in an 111-run defeat in the final match—the largest losing margin by runs in Australia’s T20 history. Key players such as Nathan Ellis, Glenn Maxwell, and Tim David did not feature in the Pakistan series but are expected to join the squad in Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup opener.

Australia will begin their campaign on 11 February in Colombo against Ireland. Their Group B opponents also include hosts Sri Lanka, Oman, and Zimbabwe, setting up a challenging path to the Super 12 stage.

Australia T20 World Cup Group B Schedule (Sri Lanka)

With Hazlewood’s fitness uncertain and other senior pacers unavailable, Australia faces a precarious start in what is widely considered a highly competitive tournament. The team’s ability to adapt and rely on emerging bowlers like Abbott could prove decisive in their quest for T20 World Cup glory.