Australia’s build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has encountered an early hurdle, with senior fast bowler Pat Cummins set to miss the opening phase of the tournament. The development was confirmed by Australia’s chief selector George Bailey, who revealed that Cummins is unlikely to be available for the first few matches.
The Australian camp remains optimistic about Cummins’ eventual participation, but caution appears to be the guiding principle as the team looks to manage one of its most valuable all-format players during a demanding international calendar.
Reason why Pat Cummins will miss first few matches in T20 World Cup 2026
Notably, Cummins has been dealing with a lumbar bone stress injury, an issue that first surfaced in the lead-up to the 2025–26 Ashes series. The injury significantly disrupted his involvement in that marquee contest, forcing him to sit out four of the five Tests. Although he made a brief return during the third Test in Adelaide and produced an impressive six-wicket performance, the right-arm pacer later opted to withdraw from the remainder of the series to avoid aggravating the problem.
Medical advice and workload management have since played a central role in shaping Australia’s plans for Cummins, particularly with a global event like the T20 World Cup on the horizon.
Speaking about Cummins’ availability, Bailey indicated that Australia are targeting a slightly delayed entry for their pace spearhead. According to the selector, Cummins is expected to link up with the World Cup squad around the third or fourth match of the tournament, provided his rehabilitation progresses without setbacks.
“He’ll probably join that World Cup group a little bit later in the tournament, around game three or four. If we can, absolutely, that’s the plan,” said Bailey as quoted by cricket.com.au.
Bailey stressed that while the team would ideally like Cummins available from the outset, there is no intention of rushing him back. Australia, he noted, is prepared to adjust its squad composition if circumstances demand, underlining the importance of long-term fitness over short-term gains.
“Clearly, if something moves and we’re forced to cover that, we will, but, yes, hopefully all things being equal, that’ll be how that one plays out,” added Bailey.
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Impact on Australia’s early campaign
Cummins’ absence from the initial fixtures could influence Australia’s bowling combinations in the early stages of the tournament. As a proven leader with vast experience in high-pressure situations, his unavailability places added responsibility on the remaining fast-bowling group to deliver with both the new ball and at the death.
That said, Australia boasts considerable depth in pace bowling, and the team management is confident that interim solutions can keep the campaign on track until Cummins is ready to return.
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