On February 16, Australia were handed an eight-wicket drubbing at the hands of Sri Lanka in their Group B fixture at the T20 World Cup 2026. While the defeat came as a surprise following Australia’s loss against Zimbabwe, their chances to progress into the Super Eight now stand in jeopardy. Following two defeats in three matches, former Australian cricketers Ian Healy and Mark Waugh slammed the selection committee after their recent 8-wicket defeat.
Speaking on SEN Cricket, former Aussie wicketkeeper-batter Ian Healy did not hold back in questioning the balance of the side and the rationale behind the changes made for the key game. He criticised the team management for not including Steve Smith in the playing XI after he had been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood.
Healy exclaimed, “We had two bowlers and our best batsman dropped in what was probably our final match for one all-rounder and one bowler. And the captain himself returned. This was to lengthen our batting order. Cooper Connolly, really? How much is that going to lengthen our batting order? He hasn’t made double figures in six games. Connolly must wait. If Glenn Maxwell finishes and starts to develop better as his replacement, then maybe. But the fact that he was in our bowling attack as a frontline bowler is just not good enough.”
Furthermore, Healy also ado took the Australian selection committee to cleaners as he stated, “The selection misguidance was a year ago, when they really prioritised power over batsmanship. But Marcus Stoinis, Maxwell and Connolly are just not an Australian bowling attack. They’re part-timers who can be handy – that’s about it. Especially while Abbott is on the bench and not being put into the side.”
‘Campaign was doomed from get-go’
Not only Healy, Australia cricket legend turned commentator, Mark Waugh also questioned the selection issues while aiming at the nation’s selectors. Speaking on SENQ Breakfast following Australia’s overnight defeat against Sri Lanka, Waugh claimed, “I think that the whole campaign was doomed from the get-go with selection issues and injuries. I think preparation hasn’t been great. It’s all unfolded probably the way I thought it would, even though we’re in a pretty weak group.”
Mark Waugh further hit out at the selectors for omitting Steve Smith, who has had a good campaign for the Aussies in the recent past as well as had a decent run in the BBL.
“I know you can’t please everybody, and sometimes there are tough calls that can go either way, but to me, the non-selection of Steve Smith in the squad originally is the most baffling non-selection I can remember for ages. I mean, here you’ve got a guy who has looked a class above everybody in the BBL,” he reiterated.
“He’s an outstanding fieldsman. He’s a great player of spin. He should have been first picked, and he wasn’t picked in the squad… then he wasn’t even picked as a replacement, and then they’ve got him over there, and they still haven’t played him,” Waugh further elaborated following Australia’s defeat vs Sri Lanka.
With a Super Eight place on stake, Australia will hope for other team results to go their way and register a convincing victory over Oman, when they play them on February 20 at the Pallekele International Stadium.
