Australia finally kicks off their T20 World Cup campaign as the last team to enter the fray—a delay that might be the only thing currently working in their favor. Facing an unlucky Ireland side in Colombo, the 2021 champions are staring down a personnel crisis that has left their bowling attack looking thinner than it has in over a decade.
A Decimated Bowling Attack and Fitness Racing Against Time
The big story heading into this clash is who isn’t there. For the first time since the 2009 Champions Trophy, Australia will take the field in an ICC tournament without at least one of their “Big Five” icons: Steven Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, or Mitchell Starc. With Cummins and Hazlewood ruled out due to injury, the selectors have made the eyebrow-raising decision not to name a replacement for Hazlewood yet. This leaves the squad with only 13 fit players to choose from.
Even the players who are available aren’t at 100%. Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa are both coming off hamstring and groin concerns, respectively. Had the tournament started any earlier, Australia might have been forced to field a club-level attack. As it stands, they will likely hand the new ball to Xavier Bartlett or Ben Dwarshuis, marking the least experienced Australian bowling unit seen at a World Cup in years. Combined with a recent 3-0 series loss in Pakistan, the Aussies are walking into the Premadasa Stadium with more questions than answers.
Veterans Under Pressure: The Maxwell and Stirling Factor
For the stars of the show, this match is about proving they aren’t “past it.” Glenn Maxwell, turning 38 this year and already retired from ODIs, is looking to produce one last magic run. However, “The Big Show” has been anything but electric lately. Aside from a lone match-winning knock against South Africa last August, his T20 form has been dismal, struggling for runs throughout the BBL. With Tim David out of the opening round due to a hamstring injury, Australia desperately needs Maxwell to anchor the middle order and provide vital overs of spin.
Ireland faces a similar dilemma with their talisman, Paul Stirling. The skipper has historically struggled against Australia—failing to secure a win in six attempts—and his recent strike rate has dipped to a sluggish 125.17. After a disappointing 6 off 13 balls in Ireland’s opening-match collapse against Sri Lanka, Stirling needs to exploit Australia’s inexperienced pace attack early if Ireland is to stand a chance.
The conditions in Colombo will favor the slow bowlers, meaning Adam Zampa and Matt Kuhnemann will be the keys for Australia. Ireland, meanwhile, will be seeking redemption after “butchering” their opener against Sri Lanka, where seven dropped catches cost them a golden opportunity. If Ireland can sharpen their fielding and navigate the spin twins, they might just find the depleted Australians ripe for the picking.
Probable Australia XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett/Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa.
Probable Ireland XI: Paul Stirling (c), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys.
