With only a few days to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Australia have been handed another setback with pacer Nathan Ellis sustaining a hamstring injury. Ellis, who was recently seen leading the Hobart Hurricanes in Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26, earlier missed the defending champions’ Knockout encounter against Melbourne Stars and was also ruled out of the Challenger, where they faced Sydney Sixers.
The 31-year-old right-arm pacer sustained an injury during Hurricanes’ match against Brisbane Heat, although the exact details weren’t disclosed. In a statement released by the franchise on Friday read, “Hobart Hurricanes can confirm that skipper Nathan Ellis will miss the remainder of the BBL season and the BBL15 finals due to hamstring tightness. Ellis, who missed the Knockout on Wednesday night, was aiming to return for the final two matches of the BBL finals but was unfortunately unable to overcome the injury.”
Nathan Ellis’ injury adds to Australia’s mounting injury woes
Although in absence of Nathan Ellis, Ben McDermott led the Hurricanes in the Challenger of BBL 15, his injury adds to the list, who are already struggling with the fitness of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. While Cummins is recovering from a lumbar stress injury in his lower back, Hazlewood is recovering from a hamstring injury.
Speaking of the T20 World Cup 2026, Australia are drawn in Group B alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman. The Mitchell Marsh-led side will kickstart their campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo, followed by a match each against Zimbabwe (February 13), Sri Lanka (February 17), and Oman (February 21).
Australia’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
