Nathan Ellis wants to step up for Australia in absence of big-name fast bowlers

Hazlewood and Cummins were forced to withdrew from the global tournament due to injuries which has left Ellis, with 32 T20I caps, as the most experienced seamer in the Australia squad.

Ben Dwarshuis (14 caps) and Xavier Bartlett (18 caps) will provide the support while allrounders Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis also offer medium-pace options.

Australia ooen their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo on Wednesday, befoee further group fixtures against Zimbabwe, co-hosts Sri Lanka and Oman.

"You lose a world-class player and one of the better white-ball bowlers in the world in Hoff (Hazlewood), things are always going to have to change," Ellis said.

"Really unfortunate for our squad that Hoff's missing out but also for him. I feel like the poor bugger's had a tough few months and hasn't been able to get up.

"My role will (be to) try to be adaptable as much as I can but, yeah, missing Josh Hazlewood is always a big miss."

Australia have got use to not having Cummins and Hazlewood in the shortest format, with the pair taking regular rest periods in-between Test duties.

"We've had 18 to 24 months of cricket together where the big three haven't been playing and have had bigger workloads in the Test arena," Ellis said.

"So we've had time to form connections and form relationships on and off the field. As a bowling unit I actually think we work together really, really well.

"We've all got sort of different skill sets and we can gel together on the night and in different phases of the game.

"Massively beneficial from the work in the last 18 months leading up to now, so it's not going to be a foreign space for us without those two big names. Obviously, a squad with Hoff and Cummo is a strong squad, but without them I feel like we're just as well-placed to go deep."