Australian chief selector George Bailey has suggested that all-rounder Glenn Maxwell could serve as a reserve wicketkeeper during the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Australia has named Josh Inglis as the sole wicketkeeper in their World Cup squad, choosing to bolster the team with spin-bowling options and all-rounders.
Bailey described Maxwell as a “natural” wicketkeeper, noting that he had seen him perform the role when he was younger.
“I’ve seen him [Glenn Maxwell] do it. He’s a natural; he did it [Wicket keeping] when he was younger,” Bailey was quoted as saying to the cricket.au website.
“It’s the balance of those sort of day-to-day injuries where a player might just be missing for one (game) versus a more serious injury, and then how long that is, and can you carry someone?” he added.
Spin To Win For Aussies?
Australia has selected a spin-heavy provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, with veteran all-rounder Mitchell Marsh leading the 15-member team.
Bailey also highlighted the potential for both Matt Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly to operate inside the powerplay, an option Australia have rarely leaned on in the past.
“[That] is something that we haven’t traditionally done a lot of,” Bailey said.
“I think both those guys have got that skillset, so that allows you to create some space elsewhere to be able to line up certain bowlers and continue to keep Zamps (Zampa) in his space.”
Australia is placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Oman. The team will play their opening ICC T20 World Cup 2026 fixture against Ireland in Colombo on February 11, followed by a match against Zimbabwe on February 13. Their third fixture will be against Sri Lanka, the hosts, on February 16, and their final group stage match is against Oman on February 20.
Australia Squad
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
(With inputs from Agencies)
