After Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of taking part, Sean Abbott was flown over to Sri Lanka but is yet to be formally added to the 15.<\/p>\n
![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b64f67e58d17f828e2f2bb29316ea87f83a1f768.jpeg\")
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Steve Smith played golf with Cameron Smith (right) in the LIV Golf pro-am in Adelaide on Wednesday.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
With three more games to go before the second pool stage that will pit the top eight teams against each other, that decision is not expected to be imminent.<\/p>\n
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Should the selectors ultimately rule that they have sufficient pace bowling cover in the form of Xavier Bartlett, Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis and all-rounder Cameron Green, then the pathway is open for Smith to be called in as Hazlewood\u2019s replacement.<\/p>\n
That would add considerably to Australia\u2019s batting options which, in the absence of Marsh and Tim David (who is in the final stages of his recuperation from a hamstring injury) on Wednesday, looked rather thin.<\/p>\n
Matt Renshaw and Marcus Stoinis were compelled to bat with considerable restraint through the middle overs against Ireland because the fall of Australia\u2019s fifth wicket would have brought tyro Cooper Connolly and the bowlers to the crease.<\/p>\n
In recent years, Australia have benefited often from depth in their batting. Smith\u2019s arrival in Sri Lanka will allow that to again be the case even if Marsh is ultimately proven fit to lead the team later on in the cup.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe actually haven\u2019t played a game with him in a long time for Australia. He\u2019s obviously a gun. He\u2019s one of the world\u2019s best,\u201d Ellis said of Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut yeah, mate, we\u2019ve had 18 months and about 20 T20 games leading up to this where we\u2019ve had a top order who have absolutely brained it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s obviously a lot of noise around Steve Smith scoring runs in the BBL. But our top order is world-class.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we\u2019re missing Marsh today. And you throw up a player like Josh Inglis So yeah, it\u2019s a tricky one. It\u2019s always going to be tricky when you\u2019ve got so many good talents and top order batters, but it\u2019s hard to squeeze into that top.\u201d<\/p>\n