Cricket news: Aussie star responds to snub for T20 World Cup after injury ruined Ashes series

Sean Abbott may have been overlooked for Australia's T20 Cricket World Cup squad, but the paceman is ready to answer the call for his country if injuries strike before the tournament. Abbott endured his own injury heartache after being ruled out of Australia's Ashes squad with a hamstring complaint in November.

The NSW paceman was a chance to be selected for the first Test in Perth after being picked in Australia's initial 15-man Ashes squad. But he suffered a hamstring strain playing for the Blues in Sheffield Shield just before the Test series, ruining his hopes of earning a maiden baggy green for Australia.

Abbott has recovered from the injury and returned to action for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL. But he was a surprise omission from the 15-man Australia squad named for the T20 World Cup, which gets underway next month in Sri Lanka and India.

The 33-year-old played in Australia's most recent T20I series against India in November, just before suffering the hamstring injury. But he missed out on the World Cup squad as selectors opted to include Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis in the pace attack, alongside Test stars Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

But with injury clouds hanging over Cummins (back) and Hazlewood (hamstring, achilles tendon), there is every chance Abbott could be called upon for the Aussies. It was a point chief selector George Bailey made abundantly clear during a recent phone call with the veteran quick.

Sean Abbott ready to step up if required for T20 World Cup

"George (Bailey) rang me and his messaging was basically, 'Be ready, in case there are some moving parts'," Abbott told AAP. "Guys have got to get back and get fit. I'm ready to go, I feel like I'm bowling pretty well at the minute.

"A few cobwebs still to get out, maybe pick up a couple of k's of air speed a little bit, but I'm ready to go. The thing I've learned at this level over the last however many years is things can happen last minute. Be ready, you never know what happens."

Abbott saw it first-hand during the Ashes series after Brendan Doggett earned his Test debut, while Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson were recalled due to injuries within the Aussie squad. Abbott admits it was "tough" missing out after being so close to making his Test debut, but was happy for the guys that got their chance.

"You've just got to roll with the punches sometimes. It sucked being injured and getting injured, especially with the timing," he said. "But I've been up for a long time, I hadn't been injured for a very long time.

"I suppose you could say something was bound to happen at some stage and unfortunately it was right before being involved in my first Ashes series. The guys that came in for Hoff (Hazlewood) and Cummo (Cummins) did a fantastic job."

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