Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out: Australia’s Pace Crisis Deepens Ahead Of T20 World Cup

COLOMBO — Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign has been dealt a staggering blow just five days before their opening match. Josh Hazlewood has been officially ruled out of the tournament on Friday, February 6, 2026, after failing to recover from a lingering injury that also sidelined him for the 2025-26 Ashes.

The 35-year-old speedster had remained in Sydney to undergo intensive rehabilitation while the rest of the squad assembled in Sri Lanka. However, National Selector Tony Dodemaide confirmed today that attempting to rush Hazlewood back for the Super Eights would carry “too much risk.”

1. A Historic Pace Vacuum

For the first time since 2011, Australia will enter a World Cup without a single member of their iconic “Big Three” pace trio:

• Josh Hazlewood: Ruled out today (Feb 6) due to Achilles/hamstring recovery.
• Pat Cummins: Ruled out last week (Jan 31) with a persistent back injury; replaced by Ben Dwarshuis.
• Mitchell Starc: Retired from T20 Internationals following the 2024 season.

2. The Current State of the Attack

With the senior stars out, the responsibility shifts to a relatively inexperienced frontline:

• The “Fit” Quicks: Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis are currently the only two fully fit specialist fast bowlers in the 15-man squad.
• The Reserve: Sean Abbott is the designated traveling reserve. While Cricket Australia has stated they will not name an immediate replacement for Hazlewood, Abbott is widely expected to be drafted into the main squad shortly.
• Injury Clouds: Nathan Ellis is recovering from a BBL hamstring injury and remains a doubt for the February 11 opener against Ireland.

3. Strategic Shift: Spin to the Rescue?

Anticipating the turning tracks of Sri Lanka and India, selectors have pivoted toward a spin-heavy strategy:

• Adam Zampa: The spearhead of the attack, declared fit for the opening match.
• Support Spinners: Matthew Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly have been included to exploit subcontinent conditions, supported by the off-spin of Glenn Maxwell.

4. Australia’s Group B Schedule