Aussies reset bowling plans: Hit by a spate of injuries, Marsh & Co. rely on support cast vs Ireland

Australia received a major jolt ahead of their T20 World Cup opener — against Ireland in Colombo — when premier fast bowler Josh Hazlewood ruled himself out due to an Achilles injury. The 35-yearold’s injury punched a neat little hole into Australia’s T20 World Cup plans, forcing captain Mitchell Marsh to redraw his bowling maps.

While another Aussie pace ace, Mitchell Starc, has retired from the format, Test captain and fast bowler Pat Cummins too is out injured. This will be the first major ICC tournament since 2016 where Australia will not feature a single member of their famed pace trio.



Hazlewood’s value in the subcontinent has never been about raw pace or intimidation. It’s about geometry, the hard, Test-match length that cramps batters on slow surfaces. The back-of-a-length deliveries that refuse to sit up. The metronomic control that allows captains to hide a spinner and hold match-ups.

In Asian conditions, Hazlewood is that rare seamer who doesn’t need swing to dominate.

Spotlight on Zampa

Without Hazlewood, Australia’s bowling becomes more volatile and less potent. His absence even puts pressure on Australia’s spin stocks to deliver.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa remains the lynchpin, arguably Australia’s most important bowler in T20Is in the subcontinent. His success, though, relies on control at the other end. If seamers are expensive, Marsh may be forced to deploy Zampa defensively, nullifying his threat.

The supporting cast includes spinners Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly and pacer Ben Dwarshuis. Marsh is confident that his relatively inexperienced bowling attack will rise to the challenge.

On the eve of their opening game against Ireland, Marsh admitted that the team needs to adapt quickly, especially with Sri Lankan conditions expected to favour slower bowlers.

Australia will adjust, as they always do, with tactical flexibility. That means batting deep, relying on matchups and extra overs from Glenn Maxwell. But losing their most potent pace weapons is an added complication.


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