Australia’s build-up to the men’s T20 World Cup has taken another hit, Josh Hazlewood being ruled out barely a week before the opener against Ireland. Selectors will delay naming a stand-in, preferring to see how the first few group matches unfold.
Hazlewood’s withdrawal follows that of Pat Cummins, leaving the squad without two senior quicks who were central to last year’s success. Hazlewood dominated the 2025 white-ball season, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift the IPL before starring in T20I series wins over South Africa, New Zealand and India.
His troubles began with a hamstring strain in the final Sheffield Shield match before the Ashes, then worsened when an Achilles niggle flared during a comeback attempt later in the series. Even so, in January he insisted that “everything was going to plan” for a World Cup return. He stayed behind in Sydney this week while the squad flew to Colombo, continuing what Cricket Australia called a “graduated build-up”.
Selector Tony Dodemaide spelled out the decision on Thursday. “We were hopeful Josh would be back to match fitness by the Super 8 stage but the latest indications he is still some time away and accelerating his program will carry too much risk,” he said. “We will not be naming a replacement player immediately. We feel we are well covered for the initial games so will make any later decisions based on priority need at the time.”
Seamer Sean Abbott, already travelling as a reserve after the Pakistan tour, shapes as the logical next cab off the rank should an extra bowler be required.
Australia have other fitness worries, though the news is marginally brighter elsewhere. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who felt groin tightness during the final Pakistan T20I, has been cleared for the Ireland fixture. Nathan Ellis and power-hitter Tim David, both nursing hamstring issues, are said to be “on track” for the group phase.
Those three missed Thursday’s scheduled warm-up against the Netherlands in Colombo, a match abandoned without a ball bowled after heavy rain—handy in one sense, given only eleven fully fit players were available.
With Hazlewood and Cummins sidelined, this will be the first ICC tournament since the 2009 Champions Trophy that Australia enter without at least one of Hazlewood, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith or David Warner. A proud record pauses here; how it affects the title bid will become clear quickly enough.
