Australia face rebuild after T20 World Cup flop

MELBOURNE, Feb 18 : Australia's group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup stands as one of the most calamitous campaigns in the team’s limited-overs history and a rebuild looms for the former white ball titans.

Having entered the global showpiece with injuries, players out of form and scant preparations, Mitchell Marsh's team were embarrassed by Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka before a washed-out match sealed their elimination on Tuesday.

Once respected for their big-tournament prowess, the 2021 champions and six-times 50-over World Cup winners appeared bereft without the leadership and bowling quality of their big three pacemen, with Mitchell Starc retired from T20 internationals and Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood sidelined with injuries.

The Australians are now left with a dead rubber against cricket minnows Oman and plenty of questions from former players and pundits over selections and team management.

"Massive challenges lie ahead and this campaign spells out in big bold pen that Australia is not as well stocked as it thinks it is," local cricket writer Robert Craddock wrote in the Courier Mail on Wednesday.

OLYMPIC AMBITIONS

Australia host the next T20 World Cup in 2028 but will be eyeing a bigger prize a few months before that when cricket is reintroduced to the Olympics in LA.

While the final qualifying system for the six-nation Olympic tournament is yet to be signed off, Australia have done themselves no favours.

World rankings are expected to decide automatic qualifying and Australia's will take a hit from their early elimination.

Oceania rivals New Zealand, who qualified for the World Cup's Super Eight phase, will be emboldened and may end up in a position to snatch Australia's spot at the Games.

In the meantime, Australia will