Australia to lose captain Mitchell Marsh He played in the first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Ireland after suffering a groin injury during training earlier this week. In the absence of Marsh, Travis Head will lead the team in Colombo. Cricket Australia confirmed Marsh suffered a direct blow to the groin, causing ongoing pain and limited movement. Medical scans revealed bleeding within the testicles and he will now undergo a period of rest and recovery. His ability to return to play will depend on medical guidance and relief of symptoms.
As a precautionary measure, veterans Steve SmithHe has not played a T20 international since February last year but is in good form during the tournament and will join the squad in Sri Lanka. In the 2026 BBL, Smith played 6 games and scored 299 points, with an average of 59.8 points, a hit rate of 167.98, and a maximum score of 100 points. Smith will fit in with the team and be ready to step in if needed. The development was a major blow for Australia, with Marsh losing his leadership and all-round ability at the start of the game. Against Ireland, Australia won the toss and elected to bat. team: Ireland (Starting XI): Paul Sterling (centre), Ross Adair, Harry Turcotte, Lorcan Tucker (female), Curtis Campfer, Benjamin Kallitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys Australia (XI): Travis Head (C), Josh Inglis (F), Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Glenn MaxwellMarcus Stonis, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kooneman, Adam Zampa
