T20 World Cup: ‘Australia’s confused thinking behind early exit’

After Monday’s resounding defeat to Sri Lanka took the fate of the World Cup out of his team’s hands, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh asked the Irish for their luck.

The following day, Ireland were scheduled to face Zimbabwe in Pallekele. Any points for the African team will eliminate Australia from the competition.

Clearly no one told Marsh that when it comes to Irish luck in a cricketing context, rain is never far away. The two teams shared the points after wet weather led to the match being canceled without the ball being thrown. Zimbabwe crossed, Australia went.

For the first time since 2009, there will be no Australian team in the Super 8s stage or equivalent. Since winning it in 2021, this edition marks the third consecutive T20 World Cup without Australia in the semi-finals.

Less than a month after the conclusion of a resounding Ashes defeat, Australia’s T20 side has failed to reach similar heights. The failings of this competition, which has seen them play all their group matches in Sri Lanka, coupled with the broader stagnation in the format, do little to dismiss the idea that T20 cricket is not a priority.

As always after a difficult tournament, selection becomes questionable. Steve Smith has been out of this side for a long time, having not featured for almost two years. A century and two fifties in the last Big Bash were not enough to earn him a call-up. Not until Marsh injured his groin in training before Australia’s first match against Ireland.

Smith has been called in to fit in in Colombo in case he is needed. He was, in the end, but not as a replacement for Marsh.

The Australian Test run machine eventually earned a place in the team when the selectors late appointed a replacement for Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the competition before a ball was bowled.

All the moving parts of a player who arrived on the field as a substitute while Australia were still mathematically alive, with Smith powerless to stop Sri Lanka and Pathum Nissanka’s attack.