Australia's T20 World Cup campaign 'doomed from get-go' and Steve Smith omission was 'an insult', says Mark Waugh
Australia legend Mark Waugh offers damning verdict on T20 World Cup campaign and omission of Steve Smith; Smith was averaging 60 for Sydney Sixers in BBL; Australia knocked out of tournament after Zimababwe vs Ireland called off due to rain
Tuesday 17 February 2026 12:23, UK
Australia legend Mark Waugh has condemned the Baggy Greens' T20 World Cup campaign as "doomed from the get-go" after a second successive tournament loss to Sri Lanka.
Their eight-wicket loss in Pallekele on Monday meant their fate was no longer in their hands and when Ireland's match against Zimbabwe was rained off on Tuesday, the 2021 champions suffered an embarrassing group-stage exit that felt unthinkable at the start of the tournament.
After defeat to Sri Lanka, Waugh was critical of the "baffling" choices made by Australia's selectors, calling Steve Smith's omission from the side an "insult" after the 36-year old's sparkling form in the BBL prior to the World Cup.
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"I think that the whole campaign was doomed from the get-go with selection issues and injuries," Waugh said on SEN radio in Australia after the defeat.
"To me, the non-selection of Steve Smith in the squad originally is the most baffling non-selection I can remember for ages.
I just think they've got the selections completely wrong and to have your best player by 100 yards sitting on the sideline in Steve Smith ... I think it's an insult to Steve Smith, to be honest."
Smith, boasting 1094 runs for Australia in T20 internationals, had been talismanic for his Sydney Sixers side prior to the tournament, averaging just under 60.
Australia's sixth-highest all-time run scorer across formats is also a renowned player of spin - against which batting has failed repeatedly, losing 10 wickets for 77 runs against Sri Lanka after Marsh and fellow opener Travis Head made 104 runs in 8.3 overs.
"[Smith's] an outstanding fielder. He's a great player of spin. He should have been first picked, and he wasn't picked in the squad… then he wasn't even picked as a replacement, and then they've got him over there, and they still haven't played him," Waugh added.
"The selectors have their plans in place, but you've got to be smart enough to see which players are in form and which players are out of form, and you've got to play the percentages a lot better than what our selectors have played at the moment."
"It's just been baffling."
Watch every game from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket, including the competition final on Sunday March 8. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.
