Australia’s T20 World Cup failure pushed them to the brink of elimination, but they managed to stay in the tournament thanks to Afghanistan’s victory over Bangladesh. Despite their poor performance, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood believes that there is no immediate need for significant changes to the aging squad.
Looking ahead to the next World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, only one player from the current 15-man squad will be under 30, Cameron Green at 24 years old. Green, an all-rounder, did not get a chance to play in this World Cup. However, Hazlewood acknowledges that many of the players still play competitive cricket in franchises and are available for selection. He believes that any changes will likely happen gradually rather than drastically.
One area where Hazlewood feels Australia needs improvement is their fielding during the tournament. He points out several dropped catches in key games and suggests that challenging playing conditions with high winds in St Lucia may have contributed to their struggles. Despite this, Hazlewood remains optimistic about the talent within the team and emphasizes that the players are dedicated to their training and always strive to improve.
Overall, while T20 World Cup results were not as desired as they had hoped, Australia’s players will continue to work hard and prepare for future tournaments with a focus on improving their fielding skills and adapting to different playing conditions.
