Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out of T20 World Cup, Australia Face Fresh Injury Setback
Australia have suffered another major blow ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with star fast bowler Josh Hazlewood officially ruled out of the tournament after failing to recover from injury in time.
The marquee event begins on Saturday in Sri Lanka and India, but Hazlewood’s absence has added to Australia’s growing fitness concerns just days before their opening match.
Injury Setback Before Key Tournament
Hazlewood sustained a hamstring injury during the final Sheffield Shield match in November last year, shortly before the Ashes series. Although he was initially sidelined due to the hamstring strain, his rehabilitation was further complicated by an Achilles problem.
The 35-year-old has not played competitive cricket since November 12 and remained in Sydney while the rest of the Australian squad assembled in Sri Lanka this week. Despite this, he was initially included in the World Cup squad in the hope of a late recovery.
However, with his fitness still uncertain, selectors have now decided to rule him out.
Selectors Explain Decision
National selector Tony Dodemaide confirmed that Hazlewood was unlikely to regain full fitness even by the Super Eights stage.
“We were hopeful Josh would be back to match fitness, but the latest indications are that he is still some time away. Trying to accelerate his program will carry too much risk,” Dodemaide said.
He added that Australia would not immediately name a replacement.
“We feel we are well covered for the initial games and will reassess based on priority need as the tournament progresses,” he stated.
Impressive Record Despite Limited T20 Action
Despite not featuring regularly in T20 cricket over the last few years, Hazlewood remains one of Australia’s most effective bowlers in the format. He played a crucial role in Australia’s maiden T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, finishing with figures of 3 for 16 in the final against New Zealand.
Overall, he has taken 133 wickets at an average of 20.44 and an economy rate of 7.57. Among fast bowlers who have delivered over 2,000 balls since 2020, his average is second only to Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia’s Injury Concerns Deepen
Hazlewood joins Pat Cummins on Australia’s injury list, further weakening their pace attack.
Currently, Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis are the only fully fit frontline quicks in the squad.
All-rounder Sean Abbott, who was added as a travelling reserve, is seen as a potential replacement if required.
Meanwhile, Nathan Ellis and Tim David are recovering from hamstring issues and are expected to be available for the group stage. Spinner Adam Zampa is also set to return after dealing with groin tightness.
Preparation Ahead of Opener
Australia’s warm-up match against the Netherlands was abandoned due to weather, but the team still has a six-day preparation window before their first group match against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
Captain Mitchell Marsh remains confident in the squad’s depth.
“We’ve built a lot of depth. The guys coming in have played a lot of cricket for us. We’ve got confidence in them to do the job,” Marsh said.
He also highlighted the balance in the squad, pointing to spinners and all-rounders like Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green.
Impact on Australia’s Campaign
Hazlewood’s absence removes a key weapon from Australia’s bowling attack, particularly in pressure situations. His accuracy and experience have often been decisive in major tournaments.
With conditions in Sri Lanka expected to favour both swing and spin, Australia will now rely more heavily on younger pacers and all-rounders to fill the gap.
Selectors’ decision to delay naming a replacement suggests flexibility in team strategy, depending on pitch conditions and opposition.
Our Final Thoughts
Josh Hazlewood’s withdrawal is a significant setback for Australia just before the T20 World Cup begins. While the squad still boasts depth and experience, losing a proven match-winner at this stage will test their adaptability. With Mitchell Marsh expressing confidence in his players, Australia will now look to turn adversity into opportunity as they chase another world title.