Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to Miss Early IPL 2026 Matches Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are expected to miss the opening matches of the IPL 2026 tournament as Cricket Australia (CA) continues to monitor the workload of its top fast bowlers ahead of a demanding cricket calendar. The decision means Starc, who plays for Delhi Capitals, and Hazlewood, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will join a growing list of Australian cricketers unavailable for part or all of the IPL season. This follows the earlier exclusion of Pat Cummins from Sunrisers Hyderabad’s initial fixtures, as well as the full absence of Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings) and Jack Edwards (Sunrisers Hyderabad) on Friday. Cummins, who played only one Test during the Australian summer due to a stress injury in his back, has been sidelined since July 2025. His sole representative appearance came in the third Ashes Test in December, marking his first game since the West Indies series in July 2025. Hazlewood, meanwhile, missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. While he participated in some white-ball matches against South Africa, India, and New Zealand in 2025, as well as a Sheffield Shield game in November, he has remained largely absent from competitive cricket over the past several months. Starc, Australia’s leading bowler in the Ashes series, played all five Tests and was awarded Player-of-the-Series for his 31 wickets, which helped secure Australia’s 4-1 victory. He also featured in the Big Bash League (BBL) toward the end of the season. However, Starc’s absence from the T20 World Cup in February-March 2026 is notable, as he had retired from T20 internationals.#royal_challengers_bengaluru #delhi_capitals #mitchell_starc #josh_hazlewood #cricket_australia
IPL 2026 Set to Face Early Player Absences Amid Injury Concerns The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is approaching, but several high-profile players are already facing potential absences due to injury setbacks. Australia’s fast bowler Nathan Ellis is expected to miss the tournament after aggravating a pre-existing hamstring injury during the domestic One-Day Cup final on March 11. His exclusion comes as a blow to his team’s bowling attack, particularly given the competitive nature of the IPL. England allrounder Sam Curran is also set to sit out the entire season with Rajasthan Royals, his new franchise. Curran, who last played on March 5 in the 2026 T20 World Cup, is dealing with a suspected groin issue. His absence will be a significant loss for the Royals, especially as they aim to build momentum in the tournament. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, two of Australia’s premier fast bowlers, are unlikely to feature in the early stages of IPL 2026. Cricket Australia (CA) is closely monitoring their workloads, balancing their participation in the IPL with upcoming international commitments. The busy cricket calendar, including the T20 World Cup and Test series, has prompted officials to prioritize player health and avoid overexertion. Another notable absence is Australia allrounder Jack Edwards, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after sustaining a foot injury. Edwards, who was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the auction, will need time to recover, leaving his team to adjust their strategies without his contributions. New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also expected to miss the initial stages of the tournament. Ferguson, who joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) for IPL 2026, has opted to focus on family time following the birth of his child.#ipl_2026 #rajasthan_royals #nathan_ellis #cricket_australia #sam_curran
Ashleigh Gardner Aims to End Australia's Trophy Drought with Fearless Approach Australia's vice-captain Ashleigh Gardner is preparing to lead her team into the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with a renewed focus on fearless cricket, as the squad faces the West Indies in a crucial white-ball series ahead of the tournament. The all-rounder, set to become the seventh Australian woman to play 100 T20 Internationals, is determined to rediscover her best form during the matches in St Vincent, a milestone that coincides with a pivotal moment in the women's game. With the World Cup just weeks away, Australia seeks to end a streak of semi-final exits in major ICC events, having lost to hosts India in the 2025 Women’s World Cup and South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Gardner reflected on her evolution as a player, acknowledging that her fearless attitude from her early career has matured into a more calculated approach. Speaking to Cricket Australia ahead of her landmark match, she described her mindset as a blend of confidence and caution. "I was someone that had no fear, and I guess as I've gotten older and more mature, I've gained more fear in the way that I approach life and just cricket in general," she said. "It's trying to harness a little bit of that, not stepping over the line to just being completely reckless, but for me, the brand of cricket that I play, I try and take the game on. That's when I'm playing my best cricket." The 28-year-old highlighted the challenges of transitioning her dominant ODI form—where she scored three centuries and three fifties at an average of 45.94 since 2024—into the shorter format. Her role in the middle-order has been inconsistent, with her average of 25.11 in T20Is for Australia reflecting the difficulties of adapting to the format.#west_indies #ashleigh_gardner #icc_women_s_t20_world_cup_2026 #cricket_australia #tahlia_mcgrath
