Australia has less than six months to prepare for the next edition of the T20 World Cup, with recent matches against the West Indies and South Africa helping the 2021 champions determine their preferred starting XI.
Mitchell Marsh’s men completed a 5-0 series whitewash over the West Indies last month before toppling South Africa 2-1 in northern Australia.
The Australians will have a further 11 T20s — three matches in New Zealand, five at home against India and three in Pakistan — before the marquee T20 World Cup, hosted by India and Sri Lanka, gets underway in February next year. And of course, fringe players will get a chance to press their case in this summer’s Big Bash League.
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However, the impending return of superstars Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will create a potential headache for national selectors, with Nathan Ellis at risk of sliding out of the starting XI to accommodate the ‘big three’.
Following a gruelling five-Test Ashes campaign, a member of Australia’s ageing Test attack might withdraw from the T20 World Cup due to injury or workload management — in which case Ellis would become a certain starter.
Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has confirmed he wasn’t dropped the recent T20 series against South Africa, rather skipping the matches to play The Hundred competition in the United Kingdom.
“The nature of it is that you can’t select yourself in an Australian jersey, but you can sign a contract to come and play in the Hundred,” Stoinis, who recently retired from ODIs, explained this week.
“When this opportunity came up, I spoke to Cricket Australia, I spoke to Ron (Australian coach Andrew McDonald) and we made a plan around that.”
He continued: “They say playing for your country should be the best time of your life, and for me it has been. But I don’t feel like it’s done yet.”
Fox Cricket has taken a stab at predicting Australia’s starting XI for the marquee tournament.
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MITCHELL MARSH (C)
Despite a recent dip in form, Marsh is expected to lead Australia at next year’s T20 World Cup and open the batting.
The West Australian has proven an effective No. 3 in the national T20 side — most notably during the 2021 tournament in the UAE — but he’s more than capable of getting the Australians off to a flying start in the Powerplay, as shown during Saturday’s decider in Cairns.
TRAVIS HEAD
Currently No. 2 on the ICC men’s T20I batting rankings, Head remains one of the sport’s most damaging multi-format batters.
He was Australia’s leading run-scorer during last year’s T20 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean with 255 runs at 42.50, while he forms a damaging left-right hand opening combination alongside Marsh.
Despite a recent dip in form — scoring 26 runs at 8.66 against South Africa — he’s one of the first names on Australia’s team sheet.
JOSH INGLIS (WK)
Since taking the gloves from Matthew Wade, Inglis has cemented himself in Australia’s T20 side with rapid centuries against India and Scotland.
Sitting within the top ten of the ICC men’s T20I batting rankings, the West Australian has averaged 37.09 in T20Is with a blistering strike rate of 181.33 across the last 12 months.
However, the right-hander was dismissed for a golden duck in both of his knocks against the Proteas, albeit while battling illness.
CAMERON GREEN
Green has anchored Australia’s middle order over the last few weeks, hitting three half-centuries against the West Indies in the Caribbean.
The tall West Australian has been particularly effective in T20I run chases, averaging 40.33 with a strike rate of 159.21 in the second innings.
Currently playing as a specialist batter, he may also be available as a bowler when the T20 World Cup rolls around.
TIM DAVID
David received a deserved promotion up the order in Australia’s T20 side after clobbering a record-breaking century against the West Indies in the Caribbean.
The Singapore-born slugger, who has forged a reputation as one of T20 cricket’s most in-demand pinch-hitters, backed it up with twin fifties against South Africa in Darwin.
He’s an X-factor and a match-winner.
MARCUS STOINIS
Despite skipping the recent T20s against the West Indies and South Africa, Stoinis remains a crucial figure in Australia’s white-ball sides.
The 35-year-old was arguably the nation’s best player during last year’s campaign in the Caribbean, while no Australian seamer has taken more men’s T20I wickets since the start of last year (21 scalps at 17.00).
However, Hobart Hurricanes hero Mitchell Owen could push Stoinis out of the starting XI if he has another stellar Big Bash campaign this summer.
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GLENN MAXWELL
Having retired from ODIs earlier this year, the 2026 T20 World Cup will most likely be Maxwell’s final contribution to Australian cricket.
The 37-year-old Victorian will not only be needed with the willow, but his crafty off spin could prove a handy weapon on the subcontinent’s turning decks.
PAT CUMMINS
Cummins has only played seven T20Is since the start of 2023, with the Test captain prioritising the other formats as he manages his workload.
However, the New South Welshman’s leadership and death bowling will be a valuable addition to the national side for next year’s T20 World Cup.
If Cummins opts to skip the tournament following a jam-packed home summer, Nathan Ellis would be a more than capable replacement.
MITCHELL STARC
Arguably Australia’s greatest white-ball bowler, Starc will be tasked with creating early breakthroughs in what would almost certainly be his final T20 World Cup campaign.
However, the left-armed speedster was dropped during the two previous editions of the ICC tournament, while he has only played seven T20Is since the start of 2023 due to injury and workload management.
Adam Zampa
Zampa might well be the first name George Bailey jots down in Australia’s starting XI for the T20 World Cup.
The leg-spinner has often been touted as the most important member of Australia’s white-ball sides, and he will be vital to the nation’s success in next year’s ICC tournament.
No cricketer has taken more wickets for Australia in men’s T20Is than Zampa.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD
Hazlewood has maintained an impressive economy rate in T20Is since the start of 2024, and Australia will be relying on his relentless accuracy in the subcontinent next year.
The Bendemeer Bullet only took four wickets during the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, but he seldom leaked boundaries during the Powerplay.
RESERVES
Matthew Short
Mitchell Owen
Sean Abbott
Nathan Ellis