Pat Cummins to Use South Africa ODIs as Test Series Preparation

Springboard to the Red-Ball Series

Pat Cummins is set to use the ODIs against South Africa in late September as a springboard into the Test series, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood likely to join him, according to reports from Cricinfo and CricBlog. Cummins remains Australia’s official ODI captain but has played just two matches in the format since leading the team to victory in the 2023 World Cup final against India in Ahmedabad. In the interim, Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Inglis have each captained the one-day side.

Australia’s upcoming travel itinerary includes a three-match ODI series in Zimbabwe on September 15, 18, and 20. However, Cummins indicated he could skip that leg of the trip. According to statements given to Fox Cricket in Mackay after squaring a Test series against Bangladesh with a two-day win, Cummins outlined his expected workload.

“I think I’ll be part of at least some of it. I’m not sure I should say this, but I think the focus is on the Test series,” Cummins told Fox Cricket. “So a lot of the white-ball [series], and how we play that, would be with an eye to the red ball. So I’d imagine it’d be one, two, probably a maximum of three games out of those six.”

Balancing White-Ball Load and Fast-Bowling Recovery

The strategic pacing aims to protect Australia’s premier fast-bowling attack ahead of a grueling stretch of red-ball fixtures, which includes up to 21 Tests in a 12-month period. Cummins noted that the fast bowlers would take time away from competitive bowling while maintaining gym routines before building intensity for the South African tour. Starc and Hazlewood both indicated to Fox Cricket that they also expect to feature in some capacity during the white-ball matches before the Tests.

Workloads during the recent Bangladesh series remained light, as Australia fielded an unchanged attack across both matches and dismissed their opponents for 64 and 95 in Mackay. While Cummins dealt with a sore toe at times during the Darwin Test, the fast-bowling group emerged from the Bangladesh fixtures unscathed.

The 2027 World Cup Horizon and Historical Context in South Africa

Beyond immediate red-ball preparation, the white-ball fixtures serve as early planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be hosted primarily in South Africa alongside matches in Zimbabwe and Namibia. For Starc, the transition follows a period that includes nine ODIs since the previous World Cup, while Hazlewood has played 11 matches in the format over the same timeframe.

The South African tour carries substantial historical weight as Australia’s first Test series in the country since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Although the teams met for white-ball series in 2020 and 2023, a planned Test tour in early 2021 was canceled due to COVID-19. More recently, South Africa defeated Australia at Lord’s in the World Test Championship final.

“They’re a really strong side,” Cummins said, reflecting on the opposition. “We had a big series against them here in Australia a couple of years back and we probably exceeded expectations, played really well, and then they got us back at Lord’s last year and outplayed us there. So it’s going to be big, obviously, in their home conditions [and] places we haven’t played Test cricket in for a while.”

Tour Schedule and Squad Selections

The ODI series against South Africa concludes on September 30 in Potchefstroom. Australia will then play a two-day practice match at the same venue on October 3 and 4 before traveling to Durban for the first Test.

Squad announcements are expected imminently. Australia’s ODI squads for the Zimbabwe and South Africa legs, alongside Australia A squads touring India, are slated to be named by selectors, with the Test squad anticipated in early September. Selectors have previously noted that certain players may be prioritized for the four-legged Australia A tour of India rather than inclusion in the ODI squad.