Australia vs Oman: Can the former champions end their chaotic campaign on a high, or will Oman pull off a stunning upset?
Australia have had a very disappointing T20 World Cup 2026. Injuries to fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, plus captain Mitchell Marsh missing the first two games, made their campaign difficult. They started with a win over Ireland but then lost to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, meaning they failed to reach the Super 8s for only the second time in T20 World Cup history. Poor form from key players and some controversial team selections added to the struggles.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald said on Thursday his players were “devastated” after their T20 World Cup exit, but they would be “zeroed in” on avoiding an embarrassing upset against Oman.
Oman, who are also out of the tournament and have not yet won a match, see this game as a chance to make a mark.
Oman’s captain Jatinder Singh said, “It is the best time to crush” the lacklustre Australian team
“It is an opportunity. And our boys are looking forward to it. Because T20, it’s a game of momentum and the moments. If you, I think, play those moments right, you can do anything on that particular day. So Australia is not doing well at the moment,” as quoted by ICC’s website.
Australia Struggling with Injuries and Form
Missing key players like Cummins, Hazlewood, and Marsh early on affected both batting and bowling. Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green have struggled for runs, making it hard to chase or defend totals.
Controversial Selection Decisions
Selectors were criticized for leaving out Steve Smith from the original squad despite his excellent Big Bash form. He was added to the squad last week but was not picked for the must-win game against Sri Lanka. Dropping Matt Renshaw and relying on out-of-form players made the team even more vulnerable.
Oman Looking to Make a Mark
Although they haven’t won a match, Oman are motivated to play aggressively and make the most of T20’s fast-paced format. The team would want to finish the tournament on a high note and could cause an upset against Australia if they play well.
Australia could bring Steve Smith into the playing XI for today’s game against Oman.
The two teams have met only once before in a T20 World Cup, with Australia winning by 39 runs in 2024. With both sides already eliminated, the match is largely about pride. Australia will want to avoid another upset, while Oman will try to pull off a surprise.
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Oman squad: (c), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Shah Faisal, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra, Shafiq Jan, Ashish Odedara, Jiten Ramanandi, Hasnain Ali Shah.
