Australia's best XI for T20 World Cup 2026

<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> will enter the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as one of the favourites despite a recent series defeat to Pakistan with a depleted squad. Slotted in Group C, Australia will open their campaign against Ireland (February 11) before playing Zimbabwe (February 13), co-hosts Sri Lanka (February 16), and Oman (February 20), with all group stage matches spread across Colombo and Pallekele. While spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka will have their own challenge, Australia’s batting depth makes them a dangerous team.</p>
<p>Their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign ended in the Super Eights, after losses to Afghanistan and India. Heading into 2026, injuries to fast bowlers like Pat Cummins and fitness concerns around Josh Hazlewood have forced Australia into a tough spot. However, the team looks well-balanced to adapt and go deep into the tournament.</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span>Here's Australia's best XI for T20 World Cup 2026:</span></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span>Openers: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C)</span></h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1755534850065_FotoJet---2025-08-18T220353.jpeg" alt="Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head (Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/travis-head/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Travis Head</strong></a> and Mitchell Marsh form one of the most destructive opening pairs in world cricket. Head’s approach makes him capable of swinging games within the first six overs. His performance in the past few years has shown him dominating the bowlers comfortably.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Marsh will be leading this team. The all-rounder has thrived on batting-friendly surfaces and has grown into a tempo-setter. Together, Head and Marsh are responsible for giving Australia a strong start.</p>
<p></p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Middle Order: Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (WK)</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1753515500623_FotoJet---2025-07-26T130807.jpeg" alt="Cameron Green" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Cameron Green. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Australia's middle-order will be formed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/cameron-green/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cameron Green</strong></a> and Josh Inglis. Green can both stabilise after early wickets and accelerate in the middle overs.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Inglis has made his spot as Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Comfortable against spin and capable of playing unconventional shots, Inglis fits perfectly into Australia’s aggressive template. Notably, he will also don the gloves behind the wickets.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>All-rounders: Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1755350132078_Glenn-Maxwell.jpeg" alt="Glenn Maxwell" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: Albert Perez - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Australia's all-rounder trio is capable of winning games with both bat and ball. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/tim-david/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tim David</strong></a> is no longer just a finisher; his century against the West Indies showed him dominate and play longer innings.</p>
<p>Glenn Maxwell is equally dangerous against spin and pace. Maxwell’s off-spin also provides a team with a reliable spin option in the middle overs. Meanwhile, Marcus Stoinis has shown his ability to close games and pick important wickets both at the middle and death overs.</p>
<p></p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span>Bowlers: Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood</span></h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1759242030141_Josh-Hazlewood.jpeg" alt="Josh Hazlewood" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Josh Hazlewood. (Photo source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><span>Adam Zampa is the main spinner of Australia’s bowling attack and his ability to strike in the middle overs will be crucial, especially on turning Sri Lankan tracks. Meanwhile, p</span>acer Nathan Ellis has made a mark with his slower balls and yorkers and is in good form.</p>
<p>Xavier Bartlett is Australia’s next-generation pacer, having been crucial for the Aussies. Josh Hazlewood, who will be unavailable for the first few games, will be looking to make his presence felt after he returns to peak fitness.</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Australia's predicted XI for T20 World Cup 2026:</h3>
<p>Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Australia</strong></a> will enter the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as one of the favourites despite a recent series defeat to Pakistan with a depleted squad. Slotted in Group C, Australia will open their campaign against Ireland (February 11) before playing Zimbabwe (February 13), co-hosts Sri Lanka (February 16), and Oman (February 20), with all group stage matches spread across Colombo and Pallekele. While spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka will have their own challenge, Australia’s batting depth makes them a dangerous team.</p>
<p>Their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign ended in the Super Eights, after losses to Afghanistan and India. Heading into 2026, injuries to fast bowlers like Pat Cummins and fitness concerns around Josh Hazlewood have forced Australia into a tough spot. However, the team looks well-balanced to adapt and go deep into the tournament.</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span>Here's Australia's best XI for T20 World Cup 2026:</span></h3>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span>Openers: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C)</span></h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1755534850065_FotoJet---2025-08-18T220353.jpeg" alt="Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head (Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/travis-head/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Travis Head</strong></a> and Mitchell Marsh form one of the most destructive opening pairs in world cricket. Head’s approach makes him capable of swinging games within the first six overs. His performance in the past few years has shown him dominating the bowlers comfortably.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Marsh will be leading this team. The all-rounder has thrived on batting-friendly surfaces and has grown into a tempo-setter. Together, Head and Marsh are responsible for giving Australia a strong start.</p>
<p></p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Middle Order: Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (WK)</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1753515500623_FotoJet---2025-07-26T130807.jpeg" alt="Cameron Green" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Cameron Green. (Source:X/Twitter)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Australia's middle-order will be formed by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/cameron-green/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cameron Green</strong></a> and Josh Inglis. Green can both stabilise after early wickets and accelerate in the middle overs.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Inglis has made his spot as Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. Comfortable against spin and capable of playing unconventional shots, Inglis fits perfectly into Australia’s aggressive template. Notably, he will also don the gloves behind the wickets.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>All-rounders: Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1755350132078_Glenn-Maxwell.jpeg" alt="Glenn Maxwell" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: Albert Perez - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Australia's all-rounder trio is capable of winning games with both bat and ball. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/tim-david/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tim David</strong></a> is no longer just a finisher; his century against the West Indies showed him dominate and play longer innings.</p>
<p>Glenn Maxwell is equally dangerous against spin and pace. Maxwell’s off-spin also provides a team with a reliable spin option in the middle overs. Meanwhile, Marcus Stoinis has shown his ability to close games and pick important wickets both at the middle and death overs.</p>
<p></p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal"><span>Bowlers: Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood</span></h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1759242030141_Josh-Hazlewood.jpeg" alt="Josh Hazlewood" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Josh Hazlewood. (Photo source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><span>Adam Zampa is the main spinner of Australia’s bowling attack and his ability to strike in the middle overs will be crucial, especially on turning Sri Lankan tracks. Meanwhile, p</span>acer Nathan Ellis has made a mark with his slower balls and yorkers and is in good form.</p>
<p>Xavier Bartlett is Australia’s next-generation pacer, having been crucial for the Aussies. Josh Hazlewood, who will be unavailable for the first few games, will be looking to make his presence felt after he returns to peak fitness.</p>
<hr>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Australia's predicted XI for T20 World Cup 2026:</h3>
<p>Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.</p>

Australia will enter the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as one of the favourites despite a recent series defeat to Pakistan with a depleted squad. Slotted in Group C, Australia will open their campaign

Australia's sole T20 World Cup title win came during the 2021 edition.

Check out Australia's strongest playing 11 for the T20 World Cup 2026, based on current form, team balance, and overall squad needs for the tournament, only on CricTracker