Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test captain and ODI skipper, will forgo the August white-ball series against South Africa to prepare for the Ashes. The choice included workload management and long-term fitness goals.
Pat Cummins will extend his absence from international white-ball cricket after being rested from the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. The pacer said the next few weeks will be spent on gym work rather than bowling.
Good training block for the next two months, six weeks. Lots of gym work, probably not bowling. My body feels terrific, but there are always tiny things to fix and build for summer. It’ll likely resemble a white cricket ball.
“We’ve got New Zealand, India, a Shield game, and the home summer,” Pat Cummins told Sabina Park reporters.
The great pacer will miss the South Africa trip, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs in Darwin, Cairns, and Mackay, although he may return in early October for a brief T20I tour of New Zealand. He may also play limited-overs matches against India and a Sheffield Shield games for New South Wales before the Ashes.
After the 2023 World Cup, Pat Cummins has only led Australia twice as ODI captain. An ankle injury kept him out of the Champions Trophy earlier this year and limited his performances.
Homecoming for Josh Hazlewood following West Indies Test series
After the Test series, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who was first named for the South Africa tour, will return home. Xavier Bartlett, who took 11 wickets in seven T20Is, will replace him. Bartlett is currently the leading wicket-taker in the MLC 2025, representing the San Francisco Unicorns.
While Spencer Johnson recovers from IPL back stiffness, the selectors have summoned up Jake Fraser-McGurk. Fraser-McGurk had a mixed MLC campaign and a lean IPL. The Sheffield Shield and Australia A tour of India in September are expected to be platforms for players looking to secure spots for the Ashes.
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