Australia Lose Nathan Ellis to Hamstring Injury Ahead of T20 World Cup

The skipper of the Hobart Hurricanes will not play in the rest of the BBL, which raises questions about his availability for the World Cup, which begins in India and Sri Lanka on February 7. The Sydney Sixers eliminated the team from the championship race on Friday. With Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins also dealing with fitness issues, his setback adds to Australia's mounting list of pace bowling concerns.

Ellis had also missed the Knockout. The Hurricanes advanced to the Challenger, which is set for Friday, January 23, in Sydney, after defeating the Melbourne Stars by three runs in a rain-affected match. He had first sustained the injury during the Hurricanes' game against the Brisbane Heat. But before the game, Charlie Wakim, a hitter, took his spot.

T20 World Cup Injury Update:

🚨 BREAKING🚨
Big blow for Australia

Death-bowling specialist Nathan Ellis ruled out of the rest of BBL finals with a hamstring injury
Just weeks before T20 World Cup 2026 pace attack already missing Cummins & Hazlewood pic.twitter.com/2orKd7jPyN

— kohli-269 (@avac8881) January 24, 2026

Pat Cummins is anticipated to rejoin the team later in the competition, while Hazlewood, who missed the Ashes and hasn't played for the team since November of last year, is anticipated to reach full health before the World Cup. Ellis has been a vital member of the Hobart Hurricanes' BBL team, taking 14 wickets at an economy rate of 9.03 in nine games.

In a media note on Friday, the club revealed, "Hobart Hurricanes can confirm that skipper Nathan Ellis will miss the remainder of the BBL season and the BBL15 finals due to hamstring tightness. Ellis, who missed the Knockout on Wednesday night, was aiming to return for the final two matches of the BBL finals but was unfortunately unable to overcome the injury."

With 14 wickets in nine games at an economy rate of 9.03, Ellis is now the Hobart Hurricanes' top wicket-taker this season. During Australia's three-match Twenty20 International series against Pakistan in Pakistan, he has been rested. The start of this series is set for next week. Ellis' participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will take place in February and March, is seriously uncertain due to this injury.

In a crucial prelude to the international event, Australia will play Pakistan in a three-match Twenty20 International series beginning on January 29. Ellis, Tim David, Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, and Cummins—all of whom are included in Australia's tentative team for the T20 World Cup—have been rested for the series.

Watch this space for more cricket news and updates.