Australian chief selector George Bailey has suggested that Glenn Maxwell could serve as a reserve wicketkeeper for Australia during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.
🧤 Maxwell as Backup Keeping Option
Australia have named Josh Inglis as the sole specialist wicketkeeper in their 15-member World Cup squad, opting instead to load the side with spin-bowling options and multi-skill all-rounders. In this context, Bailey believes Maxwell’s versatility could prove crucial if injuries arise during the tournament.
“I’ve seen him [Glenn Maxwell] do it. He’s a natural; he did it when he was younger,” Bailey said while discussing Maxwell’s keeping ability.
⚖️ Managing Injuries and Squad Balance
Bailey explained that tournament selection often comes down to balancing cover for short-term injuries versus carrying extra specialists in an already compact squad.
“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-Heavy Squad for Indian Conditions
Australia have chosen a spin-heavy provisional squad, keeping Indian and Sri Lankan conditions in mind. Veteran all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been named captain for the global event.
🏏 Group B Fixtures and Schedule
Australia have been placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Oman.
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🆚 Ireland – February 11, Colombo
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🆚 Zimbabwe – February 13
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🆚 Sri Lanka – February 16
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🆚 Oman – February 20
📝 Australia Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
Mitchell Marsh (C), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
