Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test and ODI captain, has revealed that his decision to withdraw from the upcoming T20 World Cup was influenced by his desire to be fully fit for Australia’s demanding cricket schedule leading up to 2027. Cummins, who has been replaced in the squad by Ben Dwarshuis, has been dealing with a persistent back injury since last July’s tour of the Caribbean. His only appearance since then was during the Ashes series in Adelaide.
Cummins and the Australian cricket hierarchy made the strategic decision to rest him for the final two Tests of the summer, with the T20 World Cup in mind. However, a “minor setback” in his recovery led to the decision to prioritize his long-term health over immediate participation in the tournament.
“It was really unfortunate,” Cummins told AAP. “I feel pretty good, just a minor setback and just ran out of time really. I’ll rest up for a few weeks and go from there.”
Australia’s Grueling Upcoming Schedule
Australia’s cricket calendar is packed, starting with a Test series against Bangladesh in August. This will be followed by a Test and ODI tour of South Africa in September, marking their first visit since the infamous sandpaper scandal in 2018. The team will then host New Zealand for four home Tests before embarking on a series of international tours throughout 2027.
Next year, the Australian team faces a challenging itinerary that includes a five-Test Border-Gavaskar tour of India, the 150th anniversary Test against England at the MCG, an away Ashes series, an ODI World Cup, and a potential World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June.
“We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that’s coming up,” Cummins explained. “We’ll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won’t have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches.”
Impact on Australia’s T20 World Cup Campaign
Australia’s recent 3-0 whitewash in the T20 series against Pakistan has raised concerns about their performance in the upcoming World Cup. With Cummins and Mitch Starc, who has retired from T20 internationals, absent, and Josh Hazlewood recovering from an Achilles injury, the team faces significant challenges.
“It wasn’t our greatest few games (in Pakistan), but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys coming back from injury for the World Cup,” Cummins said. “Morale is good. Chatting to a few of the boys from afar … they know how big it is, they’re desperate to get started and get into it.”
Looking Ahead: Cummins’ Return and Australia’s Prospects
Cummins, who also captains the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, hopes to return to the field when the tournament begins on March 26. His participation will depend on his recovery progress, with another scan scheduled in the coming weeks.
“We’ll just be guided by my back,” he stated. “We’ll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it’s good, then we’ll have a slow build-up. T20s are a little bit easier to get up for (than Tests), that’s why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup.”
The Australian squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup includes players like Mitch Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, and Glenn Maxwell, who will be crucial in navigating the tournament’s challenges. Australia’s group stage fixtures begin on February 11 against Ireland in Colombo.
As Cummins focuses on his recovery, the Australian cricket team faces a pivotal period that could define their performance in both Test and limited-overs formats. The decisions made now, particularly regarding player fitness and squad management, will have lasting implications on their international success.
