AUS vs IRE T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview, Pitch Report, Playing 11

AUS vs IRE match in ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Group B will be played on Feb 11 in Colombo. Check pitch report, weather, head-to-head record, probable playing 11, and key players to watch.

11 Feb 2026 13:36 IST

AUS vs IRE: A crucial match will be played between Australia and Ireland on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in Group B of the ICC T20 World Cup. This match is crucial for both teams, but the pressure on the Australian team will be immense. Australia has faced criticism after recent series losses against Pakistan and India and will be looking to make a strong comeback in this tournament.

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Australia's dominance against Ireland

Two T20 International matches have been played between Australia and Ireland so far, and Australia has won both. Both matches were played during the World Cup.

AUS vs IRE (1)

In 2012, Australia won by 7 wickets.
In 2022, the Kangaroos defeated Ireland by 42 runs.

History is on Australia's side, but the current situation makes this match interesting.

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Australia will play without its 'Big Three' bowlers

Australia is playing without its three top fast bowlers in this World Cup.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are out due to injury.
Mitchell Starc has retired from T20 cricket.

The bowling responsibilities will fall on Nathan Ellis and experienced spinner Adam Zampa. Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Travis Head are expected to score big in the batting department.

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Ireland also under pressure

AUS vs IRE (2)

Ireland lost their opening match to Sri Lanka by 20 runs. Harry Tector played a crucial innings of 40 runs, while George Dockrell bowled brilliantly, taking 2 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs.

Mark Adair has been Ireland's leading wicket-taker since 2024 and is the backbone of the team's bowling.

The Colombo pitch will favor spinners

The match will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where the pitch is considered spin-friendly. In the last 15 T20 matches, no team has been able to cross the 200-run mark.

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In a total of 120 innings, only three scores have been made over 200. A score of over 150 is considered good for the team batting first.

Weather Conditions

Clear weather is expected in Colombo on match day. Temperatures will range between 25 and 31 degrees Celsius. However, the heat and humidity could severely test the players' fitness.

AUS vs IRE Probable Playing 11

Australia:
Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshis, Xavier Bartlett.

Ireland:
Paul Stirling (captain), Lorcan Tucker (wicketkeeper), Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Craig Young.