The road to the 2026 T20 World Cup for Australia

[magpiemaniac44]

The Windies playing a T20 at Centurion at 3am (our time) which would finish approximately 6:30am this morning, going into their World Cup opener on Saturday night at 8:30pm in another continent doesn't strike me with much confidence

36 hour turnaround before a World Cup game with a long flight in between. Scotland every chance to pinch that game

 

[ioppolo]

The Windies playing a T20 at Centurion at 3am (our time) which would finish approximately 6:30am this morning, going into their World Cup opener on Saturday night at 8:30pm in another continent doesn't strike me with much confidence

36 hour turnaround before a World Cup game with a long flight in between. Scotland every chance to pinch that game

Strange scheduling. Why not just have the 3/4 game series?

 

[Moonwatcher]

Raining for the Australia v Netherlands match. This could be a very boring tournament.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Moonwatcher]

Why would Pakistan get knocked out after one match?

 

[cats_09]

Why would Pakistan get knocked out after one match?

I'm not sure they'd exactly be knocked out after one match, but they'll be on the back foot with the earlier announcement of boycotting their group match against India

India would have to be favorites to go through from Group A, and while Pakistan is seeded 2 in that group - losing their first match & boycotting another, would mean needing to win their remaining 2 (against Namibia & US) for a chance to progress


I'm guessing that Iceland Cricket is going with the idea that the Netherlands would be favorites Namibia & US, so it's potentially down to that result of the first match of the tournament as to whom progresses through as the second team behind India

 

[Moonwatcher]

I'm not sure they'd exactly be knocked out after one match, but they'll be on the back foot with the earlier announcement of boycotting their group match against India

India would have to be favorites to go through from Group A, and while Pakistan is seeded 2 in that group - losing their first match & boycotting another, would mean needing to win their remaining 2 (against Namibia & US) for a chance to progress


I'm guessing that Iceland Cricket is going with the idea that the Netherlands would be favorites Namibia & US, so it's potentially down to that result of the first match of the tournament as to whom progresses through as the second team behind India

Didn't realise they're forfeiting against India.

 

[HugeJohnson]

I'm not sure they'd exactly be knocked out after one match, but they'll be on the back foot with the earlier announcement of boycotting their group match against India

India would have to be favorites to go through from Group A, and while Pakistan is seeded 2 in that group - losing their first match & boycotting another, would mean needing to win their remaining 2 (against Namibia & US) for a chance to progress


I'm guessing that Iceland Cricket is going with the idea that the Netherlands would be favorites Namibia & US, so it's potentially down to that result of the first match of the tournament as to whom progresses through as the second team behind India

Hard to predict what's going to happen in this format. USA were a bees Richard away from beating New Zealand today

 

[ioppolo]

There's also rain to consider. Especially with the Sri Lankan hosted matches.

 

[big_e]

I'm guessing that Iceland Cricket is going with the idea that the Netherlands would be favorites Namibia & US, so it's potentially down to that result of the first match of the tournament as to whom progresses through as the second team behind India

I think Iceland Cricket is simply going with the idea that if you post things taking the piss out of Pakistan, you'll get lots of engagement from Indian fans on Twitter.

 

[corbies]

The Windies playing a T20 at Centurion at 3am (our time) which would finish approximately 6:30am this morning, going into their World Cup opener on Saturday night at 8:30pm in another continent doesn't strike me with much confidence

36 hour turnaround before a World Cup game with a long flight in between. Scotland every chance to pinch that game

The West Indies played a warm up game against Afghanistan in Bangaluru 2 days ago.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-warm-up-matches-2025-26-1521126/afghanistan-vs-west-indies-warm-up-1521142/live-cricket-score

Their tour of South Africa finished last Saturday. The series got cut from 5 matches to 3 once the dates for the World Cup were confirmed.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-to-now-play-three-not-five-home-t20is-against-west-indies-1504989

 

[magpiemaniac44]

The West Indies played a warm up game against Afghanistan in Bangaluru 2 days ago.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-men-s-t20-world-cup-warm-up-matches-2025-26-1521126/afghanistan-vs-west-indies-warm-up-1521142/live-cricket-score

Their tour of South Africa finished last Saturday. The series got cut from 5 matches to 3 once the dates for the World Cup were confirmed.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/south-africa-to-now-play-three-not-five-home-t20is-against-west-indies-1504989

Makes sense, for some reason cricket.com.au had the game scheduled so just assumed it was being played

 

[ioppolo]

Makes sense, for some reason cricket.com.au had the game scheduled so just assumed it was being played

The CA App will delete entire ongoing series from existence if it deems it necessary.

 

[ioppolo]

And that's Hazlewood gone. Probably replaced by Abbott.

Our pace bowling would be Bartlett, Dwarshius & Abbott with Zampa & Kuhnemann as spinners. I rate Bartlett but front line in an international tournament? No thanks.

Stoinis, Maxwell & Connolly the all rounders.

We're boned.

 

[cricketnut14]

And that's Hazlewood gone. Probably replaced by Abbott.

Our pace bowling would be Bartlett, Dwarshius & Abbott with Zampa & Kuhnemann as spinners. I rate Bartlett but front line in an international tournament? No thanks.

Stoinis, Maxwell & Connolly the all rounders.

We're boned.

Let's face it, Hazlewood was never getting up for this. He said he was right for the first ashes test and has kept pushing his availability back.


Ellis, Bartlett, Dwarshuis (Green, Stoinis) as the quicks and spin with Zampa, Kuhnemann (Maxwell, Connolly, David, Renshaw, Head).

Everyone in the squad can bowl other than Inglis (and Marsh hasn't bowled for over a year).

No replacement named as yet, maybe they will sit on it for a few days and get funky and bring Smith in, keeping Abbott as the travelling reserve (for the next man down).

End of the day there are enough bowling options in the squad with only Inglis (and even Marsh these days) who can't roll the arm over. Let's load up the batting and bring in Smith as it may well be a high scoring tournament. It's not as if Abbott is gonna solve our problems.

 

[Cleavy]

And that's Hazlewood gone. Probably replaced by Abbott.

Our pace bowling would be Bartlett, Dwarshius & Abbott with Zampa & Kuhnemann as spinners. I rate Bartlett but front line in an international tournament? No thanks.

Stoinis, Maxwell & Connolly the all rounders.

We're boned.

they said they're not replacing him yet, which possibly says they don't really rate Abbott and/or want to check the conditions first.

 

[cricketnut14]

they said they're not replacing him yet, which possibly says they don't really rate Abbott and/or want to check the conditions first.

we might be backing ourselves to get through the group stage ... oman, ireland, zimbabwe, sri lanka before making a decision.

apparently points are not carried forward to the super 8 stage.

 

[cats_09]

they said they're not replacing him yet, which possibly says they don't really rate Abbott and/or want to check the conditions first.

Maybe waiting to see how much our batsmen suck in our first match and then using this to bring Smith in

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

I think Hazlewood's test career is finished. Been a brilliant bowler but his body can't handle all these forms of cricket and I can't see him prioritising just tests.

 

[RedOrWhite]

I think Hazlewood's test career is finished. Been a brilliant bowler but his body can't handle all these forms of cricket and I can't see him prioritising just tests.

I tend to agree, he's a world class white ball bowler so I could see him extending his career that way. Ideally he stays on till the Ashes next year, but his injuries have been consistent for years now.

 

[cricketnut14]

I tend to agree, he's a world class white ball bowler so I could see him extending his career that way. Ideally he stays on till the Ashes next year, but his injuries have been consistent for years now.

yeah played 40 of 42 tests and was durable , then has only played 36 of the last 70 tests.

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

Namibia 29/6 against India A.

Which got me thinking, what type of India XI would struggle against a Namibian first XI?

India H an Indian I team? Given that Teams A to Team F would be too strong for this current Namibian side. I only say that as the IPL plays 80 (10 teams x 8 players) and that clearly would be too strong for whatever Namibia first XI could offer.

We would be pick players ranked 78th -87th in the Indian setup of T20I. Yes we all know the depth is scary,

 

[Westend]

I think Hazlewood's test career is finished. Been a brilliant bowler but his body can't handle all these forms of cricket and I can't see him prioritising just tests.

Don't think so ...can see him rotating with Boland the next 18 months

Think the big three starc cummins hazelwood along with boland ...will be managed rotated at certain stages to prolong there careers

 

[Gough]

Wouldn't mind seeing Hazelwood and Cummins rotated into the team occasionally.

 

[Cleavy]

Seven fails as Aussie flaws exposed by selection gambles — T20 World Cup Player Ratings

Seven fails as Aussie flaws exposed by selection gambles — T20 World Cup Player Ratings

www.foxsports.com.au

I feel these ratings are too high.