Australia will be without skipper Mitchell Marsh as it gets its T20 World Cup campaign underway tonight, facing Ireland at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium for the first of four group-stage matches. Live from 8:30pm AEDT!
Marsh has been ruled out after copping a blow to the groin in training and scans confirmed internal testicular bleeding. He joins fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the tournament, and pinch-hitter Tim David on the sidelines due to injury.
Get all the latest cricket news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith will also be missing, but Smith is on his way to Sri Lanka as cover for Marsh.
Travis Head will captain the side against the Irish, for just the third time in his T20 international career.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Ireland live scorecard
Follow all the action in our live blog below! Can’t see the blog? CLICK HERE
The make-up of Australia’s final XI remains uncertain, but they are set to unleash a spin-heavy attack in Sri Lanka with reports suggesting Matthew Kuhnemann will partner Adam Zampa.
Left-arm tweaker Kuhnemann took 16 wickets across two Tests on the island nation’s dry surfaces a year ago.
He also made his ODI debut there in 2022, taking six wickets in four games.
With Glenn Maxwell also set to be named in the XI, it may be a case of spin to win for Australia against the Irish.
Ireland has never defeated Australia in any format, with their most recent encounter coming during the 2022 T20 World Cup, a 42-run victory for the hosts at the Gabba.
“You always want to play the top sides in any format,” Irish coach Heinrich Malan told reporters in Colombo on Tuesday.
“We played them in the 2022 World Cup in Australia, which was a great occasion, and we took a fair bit out of that game. Hopefully we can apply some of those learnings in the game on Wednesday… and the boys can execute their skills well.”
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1 >
“Whatever Australian team rocks up will be a very competitive team, but you look at some of the names that are proven performers over the last couple of years (and they’re) not in that side,” Malan added.
“And you look at our side, we’ve got some proven performers too, so it sets up to be an exciting challenge and one that we’re very much looking forward to.”
Australia be tempted to for the contest due to Sri Lanka’s dry decks.
The match gets underway at 8.30pm AEDT.
Ellis ready to steer new Aussie attack | 01:59
Australian Squad
Mitch Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Irish Squad
Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Discussion about this post