Injury-hit Australia can still contend at World Cup, says Ellis

Injury-hit Australia limp into the T20 World Cup without leading fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood but Nathan Ellis says the team's depleted attack can still carry the team to glory.

Cummins pulled out with a back injury and Hazlewood lost a race to be fit after sustaining Achilles and hamstring injuries.

With Mitchell Starc having quit the format, Australia will be without all three of their top quicks for the first World Cup in over a decade.

Ellis, the default leader of a pace attack featuring Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis, said they would be able to cover for the loss of their more experienced teammates.

"We've had 18-24 months of cricket together where the big three haven't been playing and have had big workloads in the test arena," he told reporters on Monday.

"I actually think we work together really, really well.

"We've all got different skill-sets and can gel together on the night in different phases of the game.

"A squad with 'Hoff' (Hazlewood) and Cummo (Cummins) is a strong squad obviously but without them I feel like we're just as well placed to go deep."

No Cummins, no Starc, no Hazlewood, no worries says Nathan Ellis 😎 #T20WorldCup https://t.co/e09rE76tas — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2026

Ellis will go into Australia's opener against Ireland in Colombo on Wednesday without any recent match practice, having suffered a hamstring strain bowling for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.

In his absence, Australia lost 3-0 to Pakistan in a warm-up series.

Ellis has been used more as a specialist death bowler than a powerplay enforcer but conceded his role might need to change.

"Obviously you have to take each game, conditions as they come. But losing one of the better white-ball bowlers in the world in Hoff, things are always going to have to change," he said.

"My role will try to be adaptable as much as I can."

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh also confirmed on Tuesday that while Ellis has been cleared to take the field for Australia against Ireland, the big-hitting Tim David will sit out the opening contest as he returns from a hamstring strain of his own.

"We'll certainly see him (David) come back into contention over the next few games," Marsh told reporters.