Cummins ruled out of T20 World Cup, Smith snubbed
Oliver Caffrey |
Star quick Pat Cummins will miss Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign as he continues to recover from a niggling back injury that has haunted him for more than six months.
Sydney Sixers stalwart Ben Dwarshuis has received a late call-up to Australia’s squad, with selectors opting to give up on having Cummins available for the tournament in Sri Lanka and India.
Former Test opener Matt Renshaw, who only made his T20 international debut two days ago in Pakistan, has also been included in the revised squad as a replacement for Matt Short.
Test superstar Steve Smith, who produced an unbelievable cameo for the Sydney Sixers late in this season’s BBL, was overlooked despite pressure to include him.
“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,” Australia selector Tony 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.”
Cummins’ only match since the tour of the Caribbean in July was Australia’s Ashes-clinching win in Adelaide in December.
With the urn retained, Cummins and the Australian hierarchy decided he would rest with an eye on the T20 World Cup.
But Australia’s Test and ODI captain won’t take any risks with his body ahead of a monster 2027 that includes a tour of India, an away Ashes, an ODI World Cup, and a possible World Test Championship final.
Before next year, Australia will embark on a red-ball tour of South Africa in September for the first time since the infamous Sandpapergate series in 2018.
Despite Smith being comfortably the form player of the BBL, Australia selectors appear to have decided he is no longer up to playing internationally in the 20-over format.
Australia will play another T20 against Pakistan, after losing the opening game on Thursday night, before their World Cup opener against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo.
AUSTRALIAN SQUAD: Mitch Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
AAP
