Besides captain Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett and Cooper Connolly were also included in Australia's XI for their crucial T20 World Cup Group B clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Steve Smith, who had been flown in as Marsh's cover, was ignored by the team management yet again.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh made his first appearance of the ongoing T20 World Cup in the crucial fixture against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Pallekele, in which the latter won the toss and captain Dasun Shanaka opted to field. Australia made as many as three changes to their lineup, with captain Marsh returning to the XI at the top of the order and pacer Xavier Bartlett and left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly also getting included.
LIVE | Australia vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup Group B match in Pallekele
Marsh had missed Australia's 67-run thrashing of Ireland followed by their shock 23-run defeat against Zimbabwe after getting hit on the groin during a training session, resulting in testicular bleeding. While Cricket Australia had flown senior batter Steve Smith to Sri Lanka as cover , Travis Head had led the side in his absence with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis as his opening partner.
T20 World Cup 2026: News | Schedule | Results | Points Table
With Australia having their preferred opening combination back in place, Inglis moves to the middle-order, resulting in Matt Renshaw getting benched despite being the only Australian batter to challenge the Zimbabwean attack with his knock of 65 off 44 deliveries. Bartlett and Connolly, meanwhile, replace left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis and left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann in the lineup.
There was, however, no place for Smith in Australia's lineup, and it is highly unlikely he will be part of the action in this tournament, now that Marsh is fit and back on the field. Smith has not represented Australia in T20Is since February 2024, and had been overlooked for Australia's T20 World Cup squad recently despite his red-hot run in the Big Bash League recently.
Sri Lanka meanwhile, made just one change to their XI, with senior wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Janith Perera replacing Kamil Mishara as Pathum Nissanka's opening partner.
The defeat against Zimbabwe along with injury concerns in the squad has cast a shadow over Australia's chances of going the distance in the tournament. While they will not be officially eliminated from a top-two finish, a defeat against the Lankans at the Pallekele International Stadium could possibly complicate their chances of advancing to the Super 8s.
Especially since Zimbabwe – who are yet to lose a T20 World Cup match against Australia – have also collected two wins in as many outings and will be favoured to go 3-0 up when they face Ireland on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka : Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka(c), Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana
Australia : Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Tim David, Josh Inglis(wk), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
Copyright @ 2026. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved.
Loading comments…