Australia have been knocked out of the Twenty20 World Cup earlier than even ending their group stage fixtures after Zimbabwe’s match with Eire in Sri Lanka was deserted with no ball being bowled.
With either side taking some extent from the rained-off tie Australia, on two factors, can not catch Zimbabwe, on 5, even when they win their closing match in opposition to Oman on Friday.
Heavy rain in Kandy meant the covers have been on the Pallekele Worldwide Stadium for a lot of the day earlier than the match was lastly referred to as off three hours after the scheduled toss. Zimbabwe thus undergo to the Tremendous 8 stage alongside Sri Lanka, with Thursday’s match between the groups deciding who tops Group B.
It’s the first time Australia have been knocked out of a World Cup on the group stage, in both the T20 or ODI codecs, since 2009. Their solely victory was over Eire, who have been additionally eradicated by the washout.
It was defeat by Sri Lanka that KO’d Australia in each circumstances, in Nottingham in 2009 and Kandy on Monday, however the true harm this time was completed by the loss to Zimbabwe. The African facet didn’t qualify for the final World Cup, in 2024, and needed to begin their journey to this occasion in October that 12 months, within the sub-regional Africa B event. They received 10 successive qualifiers to get to the World Cup, and two extra in Sri Lanka previous to this match.
Exiting because of a washout summed up Australia’s benighted marketing campaign. They got here into the occasion ranked third on the earth however by no means appeared like justifying that billing. Accidents have performed a component, notably to powerplay specialist Josh Hazlewood, but in addition to Pat Cummins. With out them Australia’s assault has struggled, taking 4 for 353 in 38 overs in opposition to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, with three of these wickets going to Marcus Stoinis.
The batting too, has been wanting type and coherence. Captain Mitch Marsh missed the opening two matches after struggling a painful testicular harm in coaching whereas a hamstring harm in December meant Tim David didn’t come again into the facet till the Zimbabwe sport, and appeared undercooked.
Many of the different batters have struggled for runs for a while, making the choice to drop Matt Renshaw, who made 65 in opposition to Zimbabwe, however not play the in-form Steve Smith having referred to as him up, curious calls.
The pre-tournament tour of Pakistan resulted in defeats by 22, 90 and 111 runs, with solely Cameron Inexperienced (twice) and Xavier Bartlett reaching 30 within the three innings. Australia did area a weakened workforce, with some gamers late to reach because of BBL commitments and others omitted or rested because of harm, however that solely underscored the insufficient preparation.
Australia will co-host the following event in October 2028 with New Zealand. T20 is prone to rise in precedence as that nears, not least with cricket making an Olympic return in that format at Los Angeles 2028.
A rebuild appears inevitable. Solely three gamers within the present squad, Inexperienced, Bartlett and Connolly Cooper, can be underneath the age of 30 come the following T20 World Cup whereas Marsh, Hazlewood, Stoinis, Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarhuis can be previous their thirty sixth birthdays with Cummins (35), Head, David and Nathan Ellis (all 34) not far behind.
In the meantime, as Australia kick their heels ready for his or her remaining sport, the event goes on with Pakistan set to take the ultimate Tremendous 8 place in the event that they beat Namibia on Wednesday.
