Worcestershire have confirmed that Australian left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis will no longer be joining them for the 2026 T20 Blast, after Cricket Australia withdrew the pacer to manage his workload ahead of a busy white-ball schedule.

Dwarshuis, 31, had been set for his third stint at New Road, having impressed in previous seasons for the county in England’s domestic T20 competition. However, Cricket Australia made the decision to make him unavailable, citing the need to protect his long-term fitness and ensure peak performance across international and franchise commitments.

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Dwarshuis’ Career and International Record

Ben Dwarshuis has represented Australia in both T20 internationals and One Day Internationals (ODIs). In 13 T20Is, he has taken 20 wickets, while in six ODIs he has picked up 11 wickets, demonstrating his ability to make an impact in limited-overs cricket.

Despite this experience, he was not included in Australia’s provisional squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India. Australia’s schedule this year also includes white-ball tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh in June, which adds to the reason for carefully managing his workload.

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IPL Commitment

Dwarshuis will return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2026 after being signed by Punjab Kings. The IPL season starts in late March and runs through the end of May, meaning his calendar is already packed with high-intensity cricket.

Worcestershire chief executive Ashley Giles expressed understanding of Cricket Australia’s decision:

“While we’re naturally disappointed that Ben won’t be joining us this summer, we completely understand and respect Cricket Australia’s decision to prioritise his long-term workload management. Ben has worked incredibly hard to earn his opportunities at the highest level and we congratulate him on securing his IPL deal.”

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Worcestershire Search for a Replacement

With Dwarshuis unavailable, Worcestershire have already begun searching for a replacement overseas player for the 2026 T20 Blast season. The county has a strong history of overseas signings making an impact in the competition, and fans will be eager to see who steps in to fill the left-arm seamer’s role.

The T20 Blast is set to be highly competitive this summer, with counties relying heavily on their overseas stars to provide breakthroughs and maintain consistency.

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Key Takeaways

• Player: Ben Dwarshuis, Australian left-arm seamer, 31 years old.
• International Record: 20 wickets in 13 T20Is, 11 wickets in six ODIs.
• Worcestershire: Scheduled to play in 2026 T20 Blast, Dwarshuis unavailable.
• Reason: Withdrawn by Cricket Australia for workload management.
• Other Commitments: Punjab Kings in IPL, white-ball tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• Next Steps: Worcestershire actively seeking an overseas replacement.