T20 World Cup Match #14: Australia vs Ireland Time, Scorecard & Playing 11

The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is set to host a high-stakes Group B clash as the 2021 champions, Australia, finally begin their campaign against a resilient Ireland. With several key stars missing from the Aussie lineup, the “Men in Green” from Ireland see a golden opportunity to cause a massive World Cup upset.

T20 World Cup Match # 14/55
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026 · 2:30 PM
Australia vs Ireland
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Australia won by 67 runs

How to Watch Live Match Today Australia vs Ireland?

Fans can catch the action live across several platforms depending on their location:

In Australia: Exclusively on Prime Video. There is no free-to-air broadcast for this edition.

In India: Live on Star Sports Network and streaming on the JioHotstar app.

In UK & Ireland: Broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket and available via the NOW streaming service.

In USA: Live on Willow TV.

Also Check: Australia T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule

Australia vs Ireland Dream 11 Prediction

Australia enters the tournament with a depleted pace battery but a spin-heavy attack designed for Sri Lankan tracks, led by the tactical Mitchell Marsh. Ireland, led by Paul Stirling, brings a battle-hardened squad that recently pushed the co-hosts Sri Lanka to the limit, relying on their clever slow-bowlers to exploit the Premadasa surface.

Australia: Captain Mitchell Marsh has confirmed that power-hitter Tim David will miss this opener due to a hamstring strain. In the absence of the “Big Three” pacers (Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood), Nathan Ellis leads a fresh-look attack, while Matthew Kuhnemann is likely to debut to exploit the spinning track at R. Premadasa.

Ireland: The squad remains stable, with Paul Stirling leading an experienced unit. The main selection call will be between the extra pace of Craig Young or the leg-spin of Ben White; given the dry conditions in Colombo, White is expected to get the nod.

Match Umpires

The ICC has appointed an elite panel for this Match 14 encounter:

On-Field Umpires: Richard Illingworth (England) and Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand)

Third Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)

Match Referee: Sir Richie Richardson (West Indies)

Australia vs Ireland Head-to-Head T20 Matches

In T20 Internationals, Australia holds a perfect 2–0 record against Ireland. Their first meeting was at this very venue (R. Premadasa) in the 2012 World Cup, and their most recent clash was in the 2022 World Cup in Brisbane, where Australia won by 42 runs. Ireland is still searching for their maiden victory over the Aussies in this format.

Australia vs Ireland Today Match Prediction

Despite the absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc (retired), Australia (75% win probability) remains the heavy favorite due to their superior batting depth and the world-class form of Adam Zampa. However, Ireland (25%) is a dangerous underdog on a spinning track; if Paul Stirling and Harry Tector can navigate the Powerplay, they could make the chase very uncomfortable for an injury-hit Australian side.

Weather and Pitch Condition (R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)

Weather: The forecast is hot and clear with a high of 29°C. Humidity will be high (near 75%), making the ball slippery in the second innings, though no rain is predicted for the match duration.

Pitch: The Premadasa surface is a traditional turner. It offers significant grip for spinners like Adam Zampa and Ben White. Scoring is generally difficult during the middle overs, and a first-innings total of 155–160 is considered a match-winning score.

Team Australia vs Ireland Points Table

Australia is yet to play a game and currently sits in the middle of Group B. Ireland is desperate for a win after a narrow 20-run defeat to Sri Lanka in their opener, as a second loss would severely dent their Super 8 chances.

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