Australian superstar Pat Cummins has been shockingly left out of the team’s T20 World Cup opening match against Oman.

The Test and ODI captain and one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh confirmed Cummins’ surprise axing at the toss, with T20 specialist Nathan Ellis picked in his stead alongside Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

“We’ve got a really experienced group that have played a lot of cricket together,” Marsh said.

“Like most teams around the world, we’ve had guys come from all over, but we’re bloody excited.”

Cummins took the equal ninth-most wickets at the 2024 IPL with 18 wickets at 31.44 and an economy of 9.27, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to the tournament final, where they lost to Starc’s Kolkata Knight Riders.

However, he has not played a T20 international since the last World Cup in late 2022, where he took only three wickets in four matches as Australia bowed out of contention in the group stage.

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Cummins’ omission was the sole surprise in Australia’s selected XI, with Matthew Wade donning the gloves ahead of ODI World Cup hero Josh Inglis, while Marcus Stoinis held off Cameron Green and Ashton Agar for the all-rounder’s spot.

Oman won the toss and will bowl first at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Australian XI vs Oman

Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh (c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.