Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been a great servant of Australian cricket, especially in the shortest format of the game. Meeting the demands of the Australian selectors, he has now been selected as the backup wicketkeeper to Josh Inglis in the squad for the ICC T20 World Cup.
Australia today revealed its 15-man squad for the ICC T20 World Cup on January 1. Many surprising conclusions have been drawn by chief selector George Bailey and he has argued accordingly.
However, the chief selector has pointed out that this is a preliminary squad and many changes may be made before the actual tournament begins. The upcoming T20I series against Pakistan will also be another team to watch, as this will be Australia’s final T20 appearance before entering an ICC event.
Glenn Maxwell named backup wicketkeeper for Australia
Australia has made a surprise player announcement, as selector George Bailey has not included the backup wicketkeeper in the Australia playing eleven. Someone like Josh Philippe was included in the squad for the series against India and has had a very promising season with the bat for the Sydney Sixers.
However, the Australian masterminds have chosen experienced all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as a wicket-keeping option in case Josh Inglis is ruled out due to injury. However, as of now the belief is that Glenn Maxwell will perform in such conditions.
However, it is worth noting that Glenn Maxwell has never kept wicket on a permanent basis during his international career and he retired the gloves during a few charity games early in his career. But he had previously kept wickets for short periods during international games. Therefore, it will be a big gamble for the Australian team.
Confirmation that there is no backup wicketkeeper in the Australian team. The tables may turn if Josh Inglis gets injured at short notice. Glenn Maxwell has been nominated for work in similar circumstances before.
– Daniel Cherney (@DanielCherney) 1 January 2026
Why has Mitchell Marsh been made the captain despite the presence of Pat Cummins in the team?
Experienced fast bowler Pat Cummins has returned to the T20 team. However, despite initially being injured for a long time, selector Bailey has maintained faith in the fast bowler and is confident with his current phase of recovery. Cummins also played his third Ashes in Adelaide; However, it is certain that he has not fully recovered yet.
In Cummins’s absence, Mitchell Marsh has always served as Australia’s stand-in captain in limited overs cricket. Marsh has therefore been awarded for his patience and timely attendance. Considering Australia’s commendable record in T20 under his leadership, Mitchell Marsh has been made the captain of the T20 World Cup team despite the presence of Pat Cummins.
Pat Cummins has not played a single T20 match since the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup Group-8 match against India.
Australia bank on spin-supporting team for World Cup in subcontinent
Australia have taken into account that the pitches in the subcontinent will select the team for the World Cup. The team includes a total of five useful spinners who can form the backbone of Australia’s attack along with the fast bowlers, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett.
Among the spinners, Cooper Connolly and Matthew Kuhnman are among the leading spin bowling all-rounders, while veteran spinner Adam Zampa will be the leg spinner in the team. Matt Short and Glenn Maxwell are two other spinners who are more than part-timers, especially on spin-friendly tracks.
Also read: Australia T20 World Cup squad officially announced; Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David included
