Australia is set to play its first match at the 2026 T20 World Cup. However, injuries and disruptions to preparations could make the start difficult. In a tournament co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, Australia will play its first Group B match against Ireland on February 11 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
This will be immediately followed by a match against Zimbabwe at the same venue on February 13, followed by matches against co-hosts Sri Lanka and Oman. Captain Mitchell Marsh has stressed the importance of adapting to conditions that are good for spin, saying the team's lengthy preparation has helped the players integrate well into the team, even though some players missed the pre-tournament series in Pakistan.
T20 World Cup 2026: Why will Tim David not play the first match?
Australia has suffered a major blow as explosive batsman Tim David will miss their match against Ireland. David suffered a hamstring strain while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes during the Big Bash League (BBL) on Boxing Day last year. The injury ruled him out of Australia's recent series sweep against Pakistan, where he was not included in the traveling squad to prioritize his recovery.
Tim David Fitness Updates
Despite being medically cleared and training hard, Captain Marsh ruled David out of the match against Ireland as a precaution, carefully managing his return given Australia's busy schedule, which includes two matches in the first three days.
Mitchell Marsh indicated that David is aiming to remain in the squad for the upcoming matches, saying, We'll definitely see him back in the next few games. This opens the way for Matthew Renshaw, who was recently added to the squad after Matt Short's omission, to play his first World Cup match after a stellar performance in the Big Bash League (BBL), which included his maiden T20 century.
Australia Squad
- Captain: Mitchell Marsh
- Batsmen: Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Tim David
- All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly
- Wicketkeeper: Josh Inglis
- Bowlers: Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis
- Reserve: Sean Abbott
Australia T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 11 | Ireland | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Feb 13 | Zimbabwe | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Feb 16 | Sri Lanka | Pallekele Stadium, Kandy |
| Feb 20 | Oman | Pallekele Stadium, Kandy |
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