Australia’s stand-in captain Travis Head has praised his team’s all-round performance after a dominant 67-run victory over Ireland in their opening ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match in Colombo, calling it a “nice start” to the tournament.
Leading the side in the absence of regular captain Mitchell Marsh, Head said Australia delivered strongly with both bat and ball to begin their campaign on a confident note.
“Nice start. Obviously, it’s nice to get into the tournament. I thought everyone played really, really well, so positive note,” Head said after the match.
“The way Nel (Nathan Ellis) and Zamps (Adam Zampa) bowled throughout the second innings was exceptional. It’s what we need from them, too. They are probably the leaders of our attack.”
Australia posted an imposing total of 182/6 after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Marcus Stoinis led the scoring with an aggressive 45 off 29 balls, while Josh Inglis provided a quick boost with 37 from just 17 deliveries. Matt Renshaw also made a valuable contribution with 37 runs, helping Australia set a challenging target for Ireland.
Ireland’s chase never gained momentum as Australia’s bowlers took control early. Nathan Ellis produced a superb spell, finishing with figures of 4/12, while Adam Zampa delivered another outstanding performance with 4/23 to dismantle Ireland’s batting lineup. The disciplined bowling attack restricted Ireland to just 115 runs, sealing a comprehensive victory.
Zampa’s performance also marked a personal milestone, as he overtook Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi to become the joint-second-highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history. The Australian leg spinner now has 40 wickets in 22 matches, level with Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, and trailing only Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, who leads with 50 wickets.
Australia’s strong opening result comes despite the absence of Mitchell Marsh, who was ruled out of the match after suffering a painful groin injury during training that resulted in internal bleeding. Head stepped in as captain and guided the team effectively, demonstrating leadership and composure in a high-stakes tournament environment.
Australia are also set to receive a major boost with veteran batter Steve Smith expected to join the squad during the tournament. Smith, who was not part of the initial playing XI, remains a key figure in Australia’s T20 setup, bringing vast experience and stability to the middle order. His presence is expected to strengthen the batting lineup and provide additional leadership support as Australia progress through the competition.
Smith’s return will add further depth to an already strong Australian side featuring a mix of experienced campaigners and in-form performers. With Australia aiming to reclaim the T20 World Cup title, the inclusion of one of the country’s most accomplished batters could prove crucial in high-pressure knockout matches later in the tournament.
The win puts Australia in a strong position early in the competition, reinforcing their status as one of the tournament favourites. With both experienced players and emerging performers contributing, the team appears well-balanced as they pursue another T20 World Cup title.
Australia will next face Zimbabwe at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, where they will aim to build on their strong start and maintain momentum in the tournament.
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