By Alam Zeb Safi
After a couple of defeats Australia had settled to depend on the outcome of other matches. And on Tuesday they were waiting to see what Ireland would do against Zimbabwe.
But it was heart-breaking for the Aussies when the game between Zimbabwe and Ireland was abandoned at Pallekele due to rain without a ball being bowled. And the outcome rather benefitted Zimbabwe who blasted their way into the Super Eights. And Australia were crashed out.
Australia had entered the World Cup after being white-washed by Pakistan 3-0 at Lahore. The pathetic downfall of the Aussies was seen something unimaginable. This correspondent, who covered that series, did not believe how Australia kept losing wickets dramatically. The below-par showing against Pakistan reflected the fate Australia might face at the World Cup being held in India and Sri Lanka.
And the things unfolded exactly the way they were seen.
Australia’s once-intimidating aura in white-ball cricket dimmed dramatically, unraveling over the course of two chastening defeats at the T20 World Cup. What was meant to be another assertion of dominance has instead exposed frailties most glaringly the absence of their revered pace triumvirate.
The campaign spiraled first with a shock 23-run defeat to Zimbabwe, a performance which was never expected from Australia. Matters worsened in Kandy where co-hosts Sri Lanka dismantled Mitchell Marsh’s men by eight wickets and that put them on the brink of elimination. And on Tuesday they had to exit following the outcome of the Zimbabwe and Ireland game.
For over a decade, Australia’s white-ball dominance has been built on resilience at marquee events clinching the 2021 T20 World Cup and an unmatched six 50-over titles. Yet this tournament marks the first World Cup in more than ten years without at least one of their celebrated fast-bowling trio: Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, or Josh Hazlewood.
Starc’s retirement from T20 internationals and injuries to Cummins and Hazlewood have stripped the attack of its bite. The supporting seamers, led by Nathan Ellis, have struggled to command authority while veteran leg-spinner Adam Zampa has endured two punishing, wicketless outings against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
Without their proven match-winners, Australia’s once-feared bowling unit has looked ordinary, unable to seize control or intimidate.
The batting has offered flashes of promise but little durability. Against Sri Lanka, Marsh and Travis Head blazed 104 runs in just 8.3 overs, hinting at a revival. Yet what followed was a dramatic implosion, 10 wickets tumbling for 77 runs, undone largely by spin.
Persistent struggles against slow bowling have become a recurring theme, compounding concerns about tactical preparation and adaptability.
Injuries tell only part of the story. Questions linger over preparation and selection.
A congested Big Bash League schedule meant players arrived late to a preparatory series in Pakistan where Australia suffered a 3-0 drubbing. Form concerns trailed several squad members into the World Cup.
The omission of Steve Smith proved especially contentious. The veteran averaged nearly 60 in an outstanding Big Bash campaign for the Sydney Sixers, yet was overlooked until injuries forced reconsideration. Even then, he remained on the bench against Sri Lanka, a decision that baffled fans and pundits alike.
Matt Renshaw, after scores of 65 against Zimbabwe and 37 against Ireland, was dropped. Meanwhile, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis and Tim David failed to reach double figures in either of the two defeats, raising further questions about consistency and accountability.
Former Test batter Mark Waugh did not mince words, describing the campaign as “doomed from the get-go” due to flawed selections and injury setbacks. He labeled Smith’s exclusion “an insult,” reflecting broader frustration among supporters.
Australia’s cricketing identity has long been defined by its capacity to peak under pressure. Yet in this tournament that trademark composure has been replaced by uncertainty.
For a team accustomed to dictating its destiny, the elimination at the group stage underscores a stark reality: Australia’s white-ball supremacy, once unquestioned, is now vulnerable.
For now, the champions have faced the worst fate and have been eliminated at the group stage.
