Australia’s T20 World Cup build-up has suffered another setback with fast bowler Nathan Ellis sidelined by a hamstring injury sustained during the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL), just weeks before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7.
The Hobart Hurricanes captain was ruled out for the remainder of the BBL after picking up the injury, with his side knocked out of the tournament by the Sydney Sixers on January 23, raising immediate concerns over his readiness for the global event.
Ellis’ absence compounds Australia’s pace-bowling concerns, with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins also managing fitness issues, although Hazlewood is expected to be fully fit in time for the World Cup, while Cummins is anticipated to rejoin the squad later in the tournament.
Before the injury, Ellis had been one of the Hurricanes’ standout performers, claiming 14 wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 9.03, underlining his value as a reliable death-overs specialist in Australia’s T20 setup.
Australia will use the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan starting January 29 as a key preparation phase, with Ellis, Cummins, Hazlewood, Tim David and Glenn Maxwell all rested as part of a broader strategy to manage workloads and ensure peak fitness ahead of the World Cup.
