Australia began their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against Oman in Barbados on Thursday, June 6, without their ODI World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins. Nathan Ellis played ahead of the senior fast bowler as Mitchell Marsh, their captain, confirmed the line-ups at the toss. However, Marsh did not reveal any reason for Cummins’s absence in the XI.

Captain Marsh keeps mum on Cummins’s absence

The senior pacer has likely been rested for the first Group B game. Notably, Cummins did not play in the warm-up matches against Namibia and the West Indies in the lead-up to the tournament earlier this month. Cummins led SunRisers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final as recently as May 26 and was among the last members of the Australian side to reach the USA and the West Indies for the World Cup due to his IPL commitments.

Cummins takes support role, seen serving drinks

Alongside Cummins, Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, and Josh Inglis were the other Australian players from the 15-man squad who did not make the playing XI for their T20 World Cup match against Oman. Despite the rub of green not going his way, Mitchell Marsh looked calm and composed at the toss.

In an unexpected turn, Cummins was seen serving drinks to his teammates during the match, showcasing a team-first mentality and providing support from the sidelines. This gesture highlighted his commitment to the squad despite not being part of the playing XI.

See Also: Once you step into the field, there is no-one bigger than you’ – Aquib Ilyas – Cricket Winner

Oman captain Aqib Ilyas won the toss and opted to field against the mighty Australians, who won the title in 2021.