Australia share injury update on Tim David, Cummins and Hazlewood before T20 World Cup 2026

Tim David, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood for Australia [Image Credits: X]

After Cricket Australia announced its 17-member squad for the Pakistan tour ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, it was confirmed that Tim David, alongside Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are absent.

For the unaware, Tim David is currently recovering from a grade 2 right hamstring strain, which he suffered during a Big Bash League match on December 26, 2025. Pat Cummins and Hazlewood are also nursing their long-sustained injury.

How did Tim David sustain the injury?

Notably, Tim David sustained the injury while running between the wickets during the Hobart Hurricanes’ clash against the Perth Scorchers, where excessive stress led to discomfort in his right hamstring.

He was subsequently retired hurt after scoring 42 runs off 28 balls. A few days later, scans confirmed that David was dealing with a grade 2 strain, following which the Hobart Hurricanes announced that their star power-hitter would miss the remainder of the BBL season.

Although the injury initially raised concerns for Australia ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, David’s rehabilitation has progressed consistently, which could make him available for selection later in the tournament.

However, with Australia set to tour Pakistan for the T20I series starting January 29, Tim David has been left out of the squad, likely as part of a plan to ensure full recovery ahead of the World Cup, which begins on February 7.

Tim David to join early, Pat Cummins, Hazlewood in doubt

Speaking about David’s injury, Australia’s chief selector George Bailey described it as a minor setback, stressing that there has been no further damage.

However, Bailey was not entirely clear on David’s immediate timeline, noting that the batter is still being monitored for the start of the tournament and is coming off the back of a heavy rehabilitation week.

“David had a very minor setback, I think last week, so didn't quite get through a running session that he was hoping to, but has since been cleared of any damage. It was just, I think, on the back of a heavy week. So he's still tracking for the start of the tournament,” Bailey said.

Bailey also indicated that Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood could join the squad a little later, possibly after the third or fourth game, given their injuries since July and November 2025.

“Josh is in the same boat and Pat's a little bit different ... he'll probably join that World Cup group a little bit later in the tournament, around game three or four," Bailey added.

This means Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss the first three or four matches of the T20 World Cup 2026, leaving Australia without one of their most successful captains and a strike bowler.

As a result, they may only be available from the Super Eight stage, potentially skipping Australia’s group-stage fixtures against Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman.

Tim David power to be intact ahead of World Cup

Nevertheless, speaking of Tim David, he has produced explosive knocks of 42 off 28 balls and 17 off 9 balls in limited appearances before his injury. In the ILT20, he averaged 30.67 from three matches, while in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, he boasted a remarkable average of 65.50 from nine games.

A proven powerhouse at No. 6, Tim David has recorded a strike rate of 172.70 from 27 T20I matches in that position for Australia. Overall, he owns an impressive T20 strike rate of 168.89 while averaging 36.27 from 58 matches, underlining his importance to Australia’s middle order.