Australia sprung a surprise in their T20 World Cup opener against Oman, with pace bowler Nathan Ellis replacing the experienced Pat Cummins in the starting lineup.
Pat Cummins absent despite fitness
Pat Cummins, who recently led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, was a noticeable absentee.
Australian officials assured fans that his absence was not due to injury, but rather travel delays following the IPL season. He is expected to return for the crucial match against England on Saturday.
Nathan Ellis earns T20 World Cup debut
Nathan Ellis, who impressed during Australia’s warm-up matches, has been rewarded with a World Cup debut. This presents a golden opportunity for him to showcase his skills on the international stage.
Ashton Agar misses out
Another surprise omission was Ashton Agar, an uncapped spinner. Despite the Barbados pitch historically favoring spin, captain Mitch Marsh opted for the all-rounding ability of Glenn Maxwell alongside established spinner Adam Zampa.
Fresh Pitch Dictates Selection
The decision to play Ellis and omit Agar likely reflects the use of a new pitch at Kensington Oval. Unlike the previous matches at the venue, this surface may offer less assistance to spinners.
More on T20 WC:
Australia look to start strong vs Oman
Despite the unexpected changes, Australia remains a strong favorite against Oman. Ellis will be eager to prove his worth, while the rest of the team aims to kick-off their World Cup campaign with a convincing victory.
Australia Playing XI: David Warner, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitch Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Oman Playing XI: Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale (wk), Aqib Ilyas (c), Zeeshan Maqsood, Khalid Kail, Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mehran Khan, Shakeel Ahmad, Kaleemullah, Bilal Kha
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