The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup loses luster for Australia with Josh Hazlewood’s official withdrawal. Tournament opener looms Saturday in Sri Lanka-India venues, but the ace paceman bows out, fitness elusive.
Hamstring damage from Sheffield Shield finale pre-Ashes snowballed. No England Tests, Achilles flare-up in recovery sealed fate. Inactive post-November 12, squad inclusion was optimistic; he joined late, still nursing woes in Sydney.
Five days pre-Ireland (Feb 11), Tony Dodemaide clarified: ‘Aiming Super 8 readiness, yet indicators demand patience. Haste harms.’ Squad holds steady sans rush replacement, monitoring tournament flux.
Hazlewood’s T20 archive endures: 2021 UAE final destroyer (3/16, NZ), 133 wickets in 56 outings @20.44 avg, 7.57 econ—sans recent action.
Pace decimated alongside Cummins; Bartlett-Dwarshuis anchor, Abbott waits. Hamstring recoveries for Ellis-David brighten group stage; Zampa match-fit. Warm-up vs Netherlands axed, six-day Ireland window.
Marsh’s verdict: ‘Stoinis-Green all-round punch, Kuhnemann-Zampa spin savvy. We’re geared up.’ Australia’s resilience faces ultimate trial minus Hazlewood’s fire.