Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test and ODI captain, will forgo the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa in August to prepare for the legendary Ashes series later this year. The decision was made based on workload management and long-term fitness goals.
Pat Cummins, who has already been rested from the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies, will now take a longer hiatus from international cricket.
The pacer explained that the next few weeks will be devoted to rigorous training, mostly through gym work rather than bowling.
“I’ll have a solid training block for the next few months, six weeks or so. Probably not bowling, but plenty of gym work. [My] physique feels quite decent, but there are always minor things you want to get right before building up for summer. It’ll presumably look like white-ball [cricket]. “We’ve got some [matches] against New Zealand, India, possibly a Shield game, and then the home summer,” Cummins told media at Sabina Park.
While the top pacer will miss the South Africa trip, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs in Darwin, Cairns, and Mackay, he has hinted at a possible return in early October for a brief T20I tour of New Zealand. He may also play in some limited-overs matches against India, as well as a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales prior to the Ashes.
Despite being Australia’s ODI captain, Cummins has only led the team twice since their 2023 World Cup win. His limited appearances have largely been due to managing an ankle issue, which also kept him out of the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
Josh Hazlewood to return home after West Indies Test series
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who was initially named in the squad for the South Africa tour, will also return home after the Test series. Xavier Bartlett, who bagged 11 wickets from seven T20Is, has been named as a replacement. Bartlett is currently the leading wicket-taker in the MLC 2025, representing the San Francisco Unicorns.
The selectors have also called up Jake Fraser-McGurk in place of Spencer Johnson, who is recovering from back soreness sustained during the IPL. 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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