Australia without their big three, World Cup quirks and Shield chaos

The T20 World Cup is about to begin, but Australia start without Cummins, Starc or Hazlewood, raising bigger questions about depth, ageing fast bowlers and long-term planning across formats. Corbin and Ed unpack the tournament schedule, Australia’s soft launch, and whether Cricket Australia has been clear enough about priorities in an era dominated by franchise leagues. They also debate World Cup expansion, Italy’s unlikely qualification, and whether a 20-team tournament risks drifting too far from meaningful competition. Back home, the Sheffield Shield returns with 46 wickets falling on day one, sparking a sharp discussion about pitches, batting standards and early-season chaos. ABC Grandstand cricket commentator Corbin Middlemas is joined by Ed Cowan to bring you all the highlights and match analysis to keep you up to speed. The pair discuss the key players and big issues that are dominating the cricket agenda, the latest in live fixtures with a hit of cricket banter. Catch every episode of ‘The ABC Cricket Podcast,’ hosted by Corbin Middlemas on ABC listen or wherever you get your podcasts, and get in touch with them on social media via @abc_sport This podcast was formerly known as ‘The Grandstand Cricket Podcast’