Australia look to ward off injury concerns for strong T20 WC show
BENGALURU: Genuine contenders in the latest iteration of the T20 World Cup, Australia will have to rise above the absence of some premier stars, who are missing either due to injury or retirement, to reclaim the title that they won in 2021.
Australia have stitched a fine run in T20Is after the 2024 World Cup, winning 17 off their 21 matches, but the recent tour to Pakistan gave them a reality check.
Pakistan whitewashed the 2021 champions 3-0 at home, further driving home the challenges of playing in this part of the world.
Now, their record stands 17-7 in 24 matches, but the Aussies will berobbed them of an all-weather bowler and lead pacer Pat Cummins too will not travel to Asia after failing to recover from a back injury, which was nagging him since last July.
The other front-line pacer, Josh Hazlewood, too The spin department looks to be in a better shape with leg-spinner Adam Zampa manning it alongside Glenn Maxwell, Matt Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly.
But can they carry all the weight of Australian attack on their shoulders through the campaign? It’s a question for which there is no clear answer at this point.
In contrast, Australia’s batting looks far more sorted with the irresistible Travis Head leading the unit.
But unlike Zampa, Head will have the backing of skipper Mitchell Marsh, Maxwell, Tim David, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis, all adept in the subcontinental Matt Renshaw has found a place in the first 15 ahead of Smith.
Smith is on the standbys list, and he could come into play at a later stage considering the brittle fitness level of several Australian players.
Even Tim David is carrying a hamstring niggle that he sustained during the BBL.
Tricky group
The Aussies are in Group B that also has Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman and all the league matches will be played across Colombo and Pallekele.Even otherwise, their group mates, barring Oman, can cause a boil-over in favourable conditions.
So, the Aussies will have to dig deep even to advance to the Super Eight.
But the 10 ICC trophies at the Cricket Australia headquarters are is a testament to their big stage temperament.