ICC T20 World Cup (2026): Australia announces provisional squad

[BouncerGuy]

Preliminary Australian squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India

The National Selection Panel (NSP) today announced a provisional 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India.

Provisional Australian squad:

Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers/Fremantle Cricket Club) (c)
Xavier Bartlett (Brisbane Heat/Gold Coast Cricket Club)
Cooper Connolly (Perth Scorchers/ Scarborough Cricket Club)
Pat Cummins (Sydney Thunder/Penrith Cricket Club)
Tim David (Hobart Hurricanes/Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club)  
Cameron Green (Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club)
Nathan Ellis (Hobart Hurricanes/Lindisfarne Cricket Club)  
Josh Hazlewood (Sydney Sixers/ St George Cricket Club)
Travis Head (Adelaide Strikers/Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club)
Josh Inglis (Perth Scorchers/Joondalup Cricket Club)
Matthew Kuhnemann (Brisbane Heat/Clarence Cricket Club)
Glenn Maxwell (Melbourne Stars/Fitzroy Doncaster Cricket Club) 
Matthew Short (Adelaide Strikers/Northcote Cricket Club)
Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars/Scarborough Cricket Club)
Adam Zampa (Melbourne Renegades/Sutherland Cricket Club)

Pat Cummins, Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly return to the squad having missed the most recent T20 Series against India.

Chair of Selectors George Bailey said: “The T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may present.

“Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup.

“This is a preliminary squad so should changes need to be made they will ahead of the support period.”

A squad for the three game T20 Series against Pakistan which precedes the World Cup will be named at a later date.”

 

[Rana]

Australia play all of their group games in sri Lanla

Where is the anchor?? Where is the spin tackler????

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Cummins, Connolly, Kuhnemann - not sure about these 3 in an Australian World T20 squad

 

[Ahmed216]

Cummins, Connolly, Kuhnemann - not sure about these 3 in an Australian World T20 squad

Connolly will surprise many people I think this WC. He's middling the ball superbly

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Connolly will surprise many people I think this WC. He's middling the ball superbly

Yes but it's unlike Australia to pick guys with limited international experience for a world cup

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Very strong team.

 

[Rana]

@Major @Kianig89 @BouncerGuy @Raja Ishtiaq

Who is the anchor in this team for 140-160 conditions?

 

[Kianig89]

Australia don't need a specialist anchor as most of their players are adept at Strike rotation

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Cummins, Connolly, Kuhnemann - not sure about these 3 in an Australian World T20 squad

Connolly has been fantastic in the BBL so far. He has earned his place..

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Mitch Owen is the only real miss but it isn't that surprising given his recent form

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Connolly has been fantastic in the BBL so far. He has earned his place..

I get that. But he didn't do much in T20 internationals from memory. Usually, they don't pick guys who do well in leagues alone.

But having said that, he has great temperament for someone so young and his bowling is useful as well

 

[hassan918]

That's a very strong squad.

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

@Major @Kianig89 @BouncerGuy @Raja Ishtiaq

Who is the anchor in this team for 140-160 conditions?

It's like comparing apples and oranges. Australia have batsmen of a different class compared to us and don't need anchors.

It's like when you were using the example of India of dropping GIll. How is that relevant to Pakistan? India has an abundance of batting talent. Pakistan not so much.

Our so called attacking batsmen are glorified sloggers who are too reckless. This is why playing two anchors will not be a bad idea for us so that when one fails the other is there to ensure we bat the full 20 overs yaar.

 

[Rana]

It's like comparing apples and oranges. Australia have batsmen of a different class compared to us and don't need anchors.

What kind of nonsense is that?

They are playing on the same turfs as Pakistan in the T20 World Cup! It’s you clowns who claim there will be 140-160 pitches!

So where are their anchors and spin negotiators??? They picked none!

 

[Rana]

Australia don't need a specialist anchor as most of their players are adept at Strike rotation

What?!?!

How hard is it to take singles with 5 fielders on the boundary post powerplay???? Who can’t do that in Pakistan??????

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

What kind of nonsense is that?

They are playing on the same turfs as Pakistan in the T20 World Cup! It’s you clowns who claim there will be 140-160 pitches!

So where are their anchors and spin negotiators??? They picked none!

Already answered this

Our so called attacking batsmen are glorified sloggers who are too reckless. This is why playing two anchors will not be a bad idea for us so that when one fails the other is there to ensure we bat the full 20 overs yaar.

 

[Rana]

Already answered this

So you insist on rubbish?

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

So you insist on rubbish?

You don't get it. Let me explain in terms of football as it might be easier for you to comprehend.

Let's take the Premier League as an example. Wolves can desire to play like Man City but they can't because they don't have the players of the same quality.

Same with Pakistan. We CANT play like Austalia. We DONT have the talent to be able to drop someone with the ability of Gill.

Come to your senses!

 

[Rana]

Same with Pakistan. We CANT play like Austalia. We DONT have the talent to be able to drop someone with the ability of Gill

I don’t buy that bull$hit

Pakistan can and will play like champions. We have a legacy.

I will not allow the fans of a low league mindset player determine what we can and can’t do. Is that clear?

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

I don’t buy that bull$hit

Pakistan can and will play like champions. We have a legacy.

I will not allow the fans of a low league mindset player determine what we can and can’t do. Is that clear?

Calm down lad.

If Gill was a Pakistani player he would have been our number one t20 batsman. Fact lol

Can't compare ourselves with the likes of India and Australia. Stop embarrassing yourself.

 

[Rana]

Calm down lad.

If Gill was a Pakistani player he would have been our number one t20 batsman. Fact lol

Can't compare ourselves with the likes of India and Australia. Stop embarrassing yourself.

By that logic, if Rizwan and Babar were Indian, they wouldn’t have had a single international cap.

Rizwan wouldn’t even qualify for their local riksha driver league.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Cooper Connolloy is an exciting prospect.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Cooper Connolloy is an exciting prospect.

Very resourceful cricketer who can do a little bit of everything. I expect him to be most successful in ODI.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Josh Philippe should have been given a chance

 

[jamie smith fan]

Josh Philippe should have been given a chance

Yeah but Connolly is better as a whole.

 

[cricfan432]

What?!?!

How hard is it to take singles with 5 fielders on the boundary post powerplay???? Who can’t do that in Pakistan??????

Everyone can take singles, babar azam couldnt even score 120 against india and 130 against zimbabwe

 

[topspin]

By that logic, if Rizwan and Babar were Indian, they wouldn’t have had a single international cap.

Rizwan wouldn’t even qualify for their local riksha driver league.

Ramadhan Cup is his true level

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

By that logic, if Rizwan and Babar were Indian, they wouldn’t have had a single international cap.

Rizwan wouldn’t even qualify for their local riksha driver league.

Yeah don't agree with that. I accept that they would not find a place in the India's t20 team.

But this is not the case here. Rizwan and Babar are Pakistani and therefore find places in our national t20 squad at the very least...

 

[Katwalindian]

Ramadhan Cup is his true level

Rizwan can easily play over dhruv jurel in indian test team...look at his record.....

 

[Katwalindian]

Yeah don't agree with that. I accept that they would not find a place in the India's t20 team.

But this is not the case here. Rizwan and Babar are Pakistani and therefore find places in our national t20 squad at the very least...

I don't think rizwan can even take place in even pakistan team.... that Asia cup final 2023 lost by his snail batting.... the guy couldn't even hit boundaries on powerplays now a days...

 

[jnaveen1980]

In this Austarlian squad thread

Number of occurrences of cooper - 4
Number of occurrences of Rizwan - 10

 

[DeadlyVenom]

In this Austarlian squad thread

Number of occurrences of cooper - 4
Number of occurrences of Rizwan - 10

That's the reason Aussies signed him in BBL

 

[Devadwal]

Cooper Connolloy is an exciting prospect.

Cummins, Connolly, Kuhnemann - not sure about these 3 in an Australian World T20 squad

I'm watching the BBL for the first time for betting purposes. Connolly is a very good player. He can play both fast and spin balls well. He can also play an anchor role when needed.

When I first saw him play in the Champions Trophy match against India, I thought he was just another slogger who hadn't touched a single ball Before threw away his wicket.

He is better prospects than fraud overhyped Owen, konstas etc.

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

In this Austarlian squad thread

Number of occurrences of cooper - 4
Number of occurrences of Rizwan - 10

Just the same guys and their obsession. Rizwan lives in their heads rent free

 

[Rana]

Just the same guys and their obsession. Rizwan lives in their heads rent free

It’s not an obsession, it’s to make sure false propaganda is nullified.

It was you people who couldn’t stop crying during the Asia cup demanding the return of two crap players!!!

 

[Devadwal]

In this Austarlian squad thread

Number of occurrences of cooper - 4
Number of occurrences of Rizwan - 10

all thanks to @Rana , who included the names of Pakistan, Rizwan and Babar in every discussion.

 

[jnaveen1980]

That's the reason Aussies signed him in BBL

It is like expendables movie. Just load the movie with washed up action stars some in guest role and hope fans of them will watch it.

 

[Devadwal]

Josh Philippe should have been given a chance

Only 15 slot available and they already pick best possible player's. This is very strong squad.

Australia vs india - The final of 2026 world T20.( If both nit faced each other in semi).

 

[jamie smith fan]

In this Austarlian squad thread

Number of occurrences of cooper - 4
Number of occurrences of Rizwan - 10

Tbh there is no need to drag rizbar into every discussion and giving them unnecessary limelight

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Australia play all of their group games in sri Lanla

Where is the anchor?? Where is the spin tackler????

Anchors still have a role in T20 but the requirement of what is expected from an anchor has changed completely.

Even an anchor should be batting at a SR between 145-150 for most of their innings.

 

[Rana]

Tbh there is no need to drag rizbar into every discussion and giving them unnecessary limelight

It’s highly pertinent here because if I pull up the other threads where these were campaigning for one if not both to return for “sri lankan conditions”.

Well explain how Australia are not following the same vision here??

 

[jnaveen1980]

Only 15 slot available and they already pick best possible player's. This is very strong squad.

Australia vs india - The final of 2026 world T20.( If both nit faced each other in semi).

That is Adam Gilchrist's prediction. He says Australia will reach the final. I don't disagree. They have restructured their line up. They have two gun bowlers. Josh, Zampa. In place of Starc they have batting all rounders. Cummins is not a great T20 bowler though. But he can strike some seirous blows especially in Indian conditions.

 

[jamie smith fan]

It’s highly pertinent here because if I pull up the other threads where these chawwals were campaigning for one if not both to return for “sri lankan conditions”.

Well explain how Australia are not following the same vision here??

U cant compare aussie batters with pak batters.
We have to understand our limits.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

That is Adam Gilchrist's prediction. He says Australia will reach the final. I don't disagree. They have restructured their line up. They have two gun bowlers. Josh, Zampa. In place of Starc they have batting all rounders. Cummins is not a great T20 bowler though. But he can strike some seirous blows especially in Indian conditions.

It will be Aussies for sure and either India and South Africa who I feel are underrated a bit.

 

[jnaveen1980]

It will be Aussies for sure and either India and South Africa who I feel are underrated a bit.

In terms of potential SA is a monsterous side. But mystery spin is the biggest threat for them. They just can't figure out.

 

[sweep_shot]

It will be Aussies for sure and either India and South Africa who I feel are underrated a bit.

It should be Australia vs South Africa.

 

[Rana]

U cant compare aussie batters with pak batters.
We have to understand our limits.

I’m talking about the strategy. The supposed requirement for anchors. Why have Australia complete ignored it, whereas this propaganda has been going on since the announcement of Pakistan’s games in Sri Lanka that they will need batters who can handle 140-160 runs conditions??

Australia play SL, Zimbabwe and Ireland in these conditions. If the conditions are as deadly for spin as being made out by those who are campaigning for this…. Then there is a good chance Australia will lose against SL in their home and maybe slip up against Zimbabwe or Ireland. They were not exactly convincing in the 2024 World Cup group stages where I think there was a game or two which they were saved by Stoinis.

Then again, I ask….have they got it right or are Pakistan about to get it right with 2 if not 3 anchors?

 

[topspin]

I’m talking about the strategy. The supposed requirement for anchors. Why have Australia complete ignored it, whereas this propaganda has been going on since the announcement of Pakistan’s games in Sri Lanka that they will need batters who can handle 140-160 runs conditions??

Australia play SL, Zimbabwe and Ireland in these conditions. If the conditions are as deadly for spin as being made out by those who are campaigning for this…. Then there is a good chance Australia will lose against SL in their home and maybe slip up against Zimbabwe or Ireland. They were not exactly convincing in the 2024 World Cup group stages where I think there was a game or two which they were saved by Stoinis.

Then again, I ask….have they got it right or are Pakistan about to get it right with 2 if not 3 anchors?

I completely agree. It’s better to adopt the right brand of cricket and give yourself a chance of winning than playing an outdated brand of cricket and hope to fluke it with your bowlers bailing you out every time. The scores are now getting higher as the balance continues to shift towards the batsmen, so it would be stupid to merely rely on bowlers when like 80% of contests are higher scoring (180+).

Sri Lanka have lesser players than Pakistan in white ball cricket for a fair few years but they still play according to the demands of the modern game. This paid off for them when they beat Pakistan in the 2022 Asia Cup Final.

Pakistan didn’t lose because Pakistan cricket has lesser players than Sri Lanka. No, because Pakistan were stuck with Misbah’s ideology encompassing Babar and Rizwan as openers with other anchors in the side.

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

U cant compare aussie batters with pak batters.
We have to understand our limits.

True. We are nothing compared to them and we should not forget this

 

[Deewana Mastana]

A very good squad.