Matthew Kuhnemann is in line for a World Cup debut after being included as the biggest surprise selection in Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup.
As expected, Australia have named superstar pacemen Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, as well as swashbuckling Tim David, despite injury concerns.
Mitch Owen, the hero of last summer’s BBL final, fit-again quick Sean Abbott and backup wicketkeeper Josh Philippe have missed the cut.
Philippe’s omission leaves Josh Inglis as the only out-and-out wicketkeeper in the squad for the tournament played in India and Sri Lanka in February.
Paceman Xavier Bartlett, versatile Matt Short and allrounder Cooper Connolly are in line to play World Cup cricket for the first time on 11 February, when Australia begin their campaign against Ireland in Colombo.
But Kuhnemann is the bigger surprise among the 15-player squad.
He has played only four T20 internationals since being handed a first cap on the 2025 winter tour of West Indies and has not yet taken a wicket. His best match figures so far are 0-14.
But Kuhnemann’s status as a left-arm spinner bodes well for the turning wickets likely to be rolled out on the subcontinent.
Kuhnemann was among Australia’s best players on the Test tour of Sri Lanka in early 2025, albeit bowling with the red ball in that two-match series.
White-ball stalwart Adam Zampa is the other frontline spinner included in the squad.
“The T20 side has enjoyed a long run of recent success which enabled the panel to choose a balance of players across the variety of conditions Sri Lanka and India may present,” chief selector George Bailey said.
Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed earlier this week that Australia were hopeful Cummins (back), Hazlewood (achilles, hamstring) and David (hamstring) would take part in the tournament.
Cummins has been rested from the final two Ashes Tests to manage the injury he first reported over the winter, while Hazlewood has played no part in that series at all.
David will miss the rest of the Hobart Hurricanes’ BBL campaign with the view to being fit for the World Cup.
Australia will name a separate squad for the T20I series against Pakistan that precedes the World Cup.
Australia bowed out of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Super 8 stage after a shock loss to Afghanistan dashed their hopes of advancing.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
