T20 World Cup Preview | Power-packed Australia look to peak at right-time in bid for elusive T20 glory

Australia enter the T20 World Cup as one of the favourites, having won their only title in the format in the United Arab Emirates four years ago, where favourable tosses went a long way in aiding their cause. Historically, the shortest format has been the Kangaroos’ Achilles heel, making it into the semi-finals in just four of the eight editions held so far, and only once since 2012. However, a more targeted focus at T20 glory in recent years bodes well for them in the upcoming edition.

How did they fare at the last T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean?

Australia began the 2024 edition with a nervy win against Oman, where Marcus Stoinis’ blitzkrieg of 36-ball 67 saved a faltering batting performance. The momentum boosted them to dominant victories against England and Namibia before an emphatic last-over chase against Scotland sealed them a Super Eight spot.

The Men from Down Under began the second phase with another assertive victory over Bangladesh, which turned out to be the last of their triumphs. Chasing 149 against Afghanistan in Kingston, Gulbadin Nabi’s four-fer dismantled their middle order after Naveen-ul-Haq’s new ball heroics had left them on the edge, and they were bowled out for 127. Thus placed in a must-win situation against India, the Canary Yellows conceded 205/5 courtesy a 41-ball 92 from Rohit Sharma, and despite Travis Head’s 43-ball 76, fell comfortably short by 24 runs to bow out of the tournament.

The results since…

Following the World Cup setback, Australia hit the richest vein of bilateral form in their T20 history. For the first time ever, they went six consecutive series unbeaten, winning in Scotland (3-0), West Indies (5-0), and New Zealand (2-0), defeating Pakistan (3-0) and South Africa (2-1) at home, and drawing 1-1 in England.

The streak finally snapped against India in late 2025, when the visitors ran away 2-1 winners in a rain-affected five-match series. The confidence received a further blow when, in their latest endeavour, they were whitewashed 3-0 by Pakistan in conditions that might closely resemble those that Australia will encounter at the upcoming World Cup.

Australia since the last T20 World Cup: W 17 L 7 NR 3

What changed then?

Plenty, in terms of personnel. Australia lost long-time fixtures David Warner, Matthew Wade, and Mitchell Starc to retirement, while Pat Cummins did not feature in T20Is owing to workload management and has now been ruled out of the World Cup with injury. Josh Hazlewood is also set to miss the first few matches with an Achilles issue sustained during the Ashes, and Tim David remains doubtful, having last played on Boxing Day in the Big Bash League when he hurt his hamstring.

The batting attack has thus been shored up by the inclusion of Matt Renshaw and Cooper Connolly, the latter also capable of providing some crucial overs of spin. As a result, Matthew Short narrowly missed out on the World Cup squad after being in contention throughout the interim timeframe. Cummins and Starc have been replaced by Ben Dwarshius and Xavier Bartlett, respectively, while Nathan Ellis continues to be their chief death overs specialist. The back-up spinner role to assist Adam Zampa has also been taken up by Matthew Kuhnemann over fellow left-arm orthodox Ashton Agar, making it five changes from the previous edition a year and a half ago.

In terms of playstyle, Australia’s batting still largely remains a collection of individuals. While the outfit has attempted to up their tempo straight off the gate with the bat in tune with modern T20 principles, the strategy has backfired on several occasions in the form of ill-fated collapses. Perhaps the most significant change has been the promotion of Tim David from designated finisher to the top five by pushing down the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, a move that has paid rich dividends so far, especially in chases. Between the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups, Australia won four and lost four when pursuing 170-plus. Since the latest event, that success rate has risen by 20 points with seven wins in 10 games, including a couple of 200-plus chases against the West Indies in Basseterre.

Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Who and what can lead Australia to glory in India-Sri Lanka?

All-rounders aplenty

In the recent three-match series against Pakistan, the side had practically nine bowling options in all their encounters, with keeper Josh Phillippe and skipper Mitch Marsh the only odd ones out. In the World Cup, Australia could boast a similar look. While on Indian flat decks, the extra batting options could prove to be the difference, part-time spin options such as Connolly, Head, and Maxwell could turn out match-winners on slower Lankan decks.

Probable XI: 1 Mitch Marsh (c) 2 Travis Head 3 Cameron Green 4 Matthew Renshaw/Cooper Connolly 5 Tim David 6 Glenn Maxwell 7 Marcus Stoinis 8 Josh Inglis 9 Ben Dwarshius/Xavier Bartlett/ Matt Kuhnemann 10 Nathan Ellis 11 Adam Zampa

Death bowling prowess, with a sprinkle of Zampa

While there have been few better in cricket history when the clutch moment arrives than Starc, the left-arm quick had a penchant for going for big runs when not on the top of his game. However, in Ellis and Bartlett, Australia have not only two highly skilled proponents of the dark arts with variations for days but also two incredibly consistent quicks. Since the last World Cup, no pacer with a minimum of 10 overs bowled at the death has conceded runs at less than Ellis’ 7.62. Even more impressively, Zampa is third on the overall list with an astounding economy of 6.50 despite a significant sample size, while Bartlett slots in at 13th with 8.08. Add to that Hazlewood (7.20 from five overs) and Stoinis (7.30 from 7.4 overs), and Australia have a world-class death attack.

When in doubt, hit it hard

Since the last World Cup, five batsmen in the Australian squad with a minimum of 100 balls faced have struck at over 150. Only England have more, while India are level with the Kangaroos. Three of them average close to or over 30, and the two that don’t are named Head and Maxwell. David leads the list with an astonishing strike rate of 185.49 while averaging over 35, and has established himself as one of the cleanest strikers of the ball in the business. Unsurprisingly, Australia’s aggregate strike rate of 149.61 is thus only next to India (157.02) and England’s (155.33), while also being just one of the three teams to average more than eight sixes struck per game in the said period. If afforded flat decks, Australia have the ability to be the most destructive batting unit imaginable, with the IPL-hardened likes of Stoinis and Green also more than capable of going at over two-runs-a-ball. 

Any chinks in the armour?

Batting against spin remains Australia's kryptonite, as is the case for most teams outside the subcontinent. Since the last T20 World Cup, only West Indies (18.47) have averaged less than Australia's 19.67 against spin, with a strike rate of 131.11 also leaving a lot to be desired. For context, hosts India average 37.31 and have struck at 160.49 against the slower bowlers. In the recent series against Pakistan, Australia lost 24 of their 28 wickets to spin, averaging a nightmarish 9.83 while barely striking at over run-a-ball, a repeat of which could bring about a premature end to their World Cup campaign. 

This might be a stretch, but as has been the case for Australia in the past in T20s, their biggest strength can also bring about their downfall. That sentence in cricket is almost always followed by the mention of Maxwell, who has surpassed 20 just twice in his last 10 T20I innings for Australia and is coming off the back of a horrendous Big Bash League campaign. Similarly, David has not played professional cricket for over a month and arrives at the World Cup undercooked, his rhythm of invincibility acquired over the last year and a bit now under question. 

Verdict: Semis a minimum 

The current version of Australia might be the best we’ve seen from them in T20 cricket, and they are no aliens to subcontinent conditions either. They should be able to find easy passage from a group consisting of Sri Lanka, Oman, Ireland, and Zimbabwe, which would likely leave them in a Super Eight group with India, West Indies, and South Africa. Tricky, but manageable if recent form and on-paper strength is to be believed. And once Australia make it to the knockouts, betting against them is almost always the wrong move.