Match Preview
In a different scenario, Australia would have treated their final group-stage clash against Oman on February 20 as a tune-up before entering the Super Eights as one of the tournament favourites. Instead, the script has flipped. Far from meeting pre-tournament expectations, they now find themselves preparing for an early exit and some serious soul-searching.
Seeing Australia bow out early in a white-ball World Cup feels unusual given their decorated history. Yet, the numbers tell a concerning story — they’ve missed the semifinals in five of the last six T20 World Cups, a stark contrast to their dominance in the 50-over format.
Questions around intent, a string of injuries and retirements, and pointed criticism from former World Cup winner Ricky Ponting have added to the scrutiny. Mitchell Marsh and his men have one final outing before heading home. While little rides on the result in terms of qualification, pride and a third-place finish remain incentives. A victory might at least soften the blow.
Oman, on the other hand, arrived in Sri Lanka hoping to script a memorable upset. Though they are winless in three games, the belief within the camp persists — especially against an out-of-sorts former champion.
Match Details
When: Oman vs Australia, 40th Match, Group C, February 20, 7 PM IST
Where: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Conditions
Thunderstorms are forecast about an hour after the scheduled start. If rain stays away, expect a high-scoring encounter. The only previous 7 PM match at this venue saw Australia post 181, which Sri Lanka chased down with two overs to spare.
Team News
Australia:
Steve Smith, who joined the squad as a replacement, is likely to feature in their final game.
Probable XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Tim David, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
Oman:
After a few changes without success, Oman may stick with Shakeel Ahmed, who claimed three wickets against Ireland. Karan Sonavale could return to strengthen the top order.
Probable XI: Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh (c), Hammad Mirza, Ashish Odedara/Karan Sonavale, Mohammad Nadeem, Jiten Ramanandi, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Shah Faisal, Shakeel Ahmed
Did You Know?
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Oman have endured nine consecutive defeats in T20 World Cups (2021–2026).
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Jatinder Singh has scored 1618 T20I runs for Oman at a strike rate of 120.47.
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Australia’s T20I record post T20 World Cup 2024:
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Before India series: 19 matches, 16 wins
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Since India series: 11 matches, 2 wins
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What They Said
“It’s definitely an opportunity. T20 is about momentum and seizing key moments. If you execute those well, anything is possible. Given Australia’s current struggles, this could be the right time to challenge them,” said Oman captain Jatinder Singh.