Kamal Ghorui
Australia Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins believes the defending champions remain strong contenders for the upcoming T20 World Cup, even after his withdrawal from the tournament. Cummins opted out as a precautionary measure due to a recurring back stress fracture, an injury that has required careful management. Although he was initially included in Australia’s squad, the fast bowler has not featured in a T20 international since the 2024 World Cup and ultimately decided against taking the risk.Speaking to The Guardian, Cummins underlined the unpredictable nature of T20 tournaments while backing Australia’s depth and experience. “T20 tournaments are always a bit funny. Here there’s five teams who have genuine chances to win it but any team can upset anyone at any stage. You just want to get through these first rounds unscathed to reach the Super 8s. That’s when you need guys fully fit and playing really good cricket. Yes, a few like Josh are still coming back to peak but most have had starring roles in the Big Bash,” he said.
Cummins also pointed to Australia’s ability to find form quickly, even when preparations appear far from ideal. “They can shake that off. We were terrible leading into the 2021 World Cup and still won it. Australia don’t have to look too far back to find form. Mitch Marsh and Travis Head are the most powerful opening bats in the world. Adam Zampa’s spin is a proven match-winner in Sri Lanka and India. And then there’s the middle order of Glenn Maxwell and Tim David, who can win games on their own.”The decision to step away from the T20 World Cup was also influenced by Cummins’ long-term priorities in Test cricket. Australia face a demanding schedule of 20 Tests in a 10-month period across 2026–27, starting with two Tests against Bangladesh in August, followed by a three-Test tour of South Africa in September and a four-Test home series against New Zealand. In 2027, Australia will tour India, contest an away Ashes series and host the ODI World Cup.“You can’t play everything. Even us older players, who used to take a lot of convincing, recognise that we need periods each year to build or rebuild strength. Resting from a game or a series here or there means I can prioritise Tests. In the long run it means players get to play more cricket rather than playing until we break,” Cummins explained.Reflecting on his evolving approach to workload management, he added, “The older I’ve got the better I’ve managed my body and my feel for the game. I know now when to push and when not to expend energy unnecessarily. With this injury, all the medical staff and coaches and I were aligned in agreeing not to meddle with it.”
