Australia suffer humiliating T20 World Cup exit

Australia have suffered a humiliating early exit from the T20 World Cup after Ireland’s match against Zimbabwe at Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy was washed out.

Australia needed an Ireland win to keep their faint hopes alive of reaching the Super Eights, but the match was abandoned with both Ireland and Zimbabwe taking a point apiece. The no-result means Ireland have also been eliminated.

Out of a total of 23 World Cup tournaments, in either the ODI and T20 formats, Australia had only previously failed to make the final eight on one occasion, in the 2009 T20 World Cup.

Elimination adds to Australia’s poor recent record in the tournament. Since winning the competition in 2021, they have been eliminated in the Super 12 stage as hosts in 2022, and were then knocked out in the Super Eights in the 2024 edition, when they lost to Afghanistan.

Australia will face fierce criticism for their approach to the World Cup. They prepared for the series by sending a vastly under-strength squad to Pakistan, denying the first-choice side an extended period of time together.

With fast bowler Mitchell Starc retired from T20 international cricket, and both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out through injury, Australia’s attack has been woefully lacking in penetration throughout the tournament. After taking just two wickets against Zimbabwe, Australia only mustered two more against Sri Lanka. All told, Australia took four wickets in 38 overs across these two matches.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]