Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia’s ODI team, is probably going to miss Thursday’s opening game of the three-game series against South Africa in Durban. Australia’s Test quicks will be closely monitored throughout the series as preparation for the next Test series takes precedence, and Cummins arrived in South Africa after Mitchell Starc.
Pat Cummins is probably going to miss Thursday’s opening game
In order to prepare for the forthcoming Tests against South Africa, Cummins and Starc both skipped the ODI tour of Zimbabwe. Under a management plan, Josh Hazlewood only participated in one of the three games in Zimbabwe. Hazlewood and Starc may play the first and third ODIs in a potential South African rotation, with Cummins making his only appearance in the middle game. This would spare Australia from having to play its Test quicks in consecutive matches with travel days in between.
Cummins hinted last month that he might just play one of the three ODIs leading up to the Test series, according to Cricinfo. Australia will use the three-match series, which will take place in Durban, Johannesburg, and Potchefstroom, as crucial preparation for the 2027 World Cup. However, because the subsequent Tests are more immediately important in the competition for the World Test Championship final, the team will not push their Test quicks through all three games over the course of seven days.
If the three Test quicks’ appearances are spaced out, Nathan Ellis, Australia’s top bowler in Zimbabwe, is probably going to play all three ODIs in South Africa. Ellis was trying to be in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI for the 2027 World Cup, Starc admitted after training in Durban on Tuesday.
But it’s still unclear how Ellis will fit into the starting lineup when all three Test quicks are available. He most closely resembles Cummins on the ODI team in his roles as a first-change, middle-overs, death specialist, and back-end of the powerplay. Australia’s two main new-ball wicket-takers are Hazlewood and Starc. Since the 2023 World Cup, Hazlewood has bowled just 30 deliveries in the last overs of 11 ODIs.
In South Africa, Ellis averages 55.37 with an economy rate of 6.11 in nine ODIs; on lower, slower surfaces in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and Zimbabwe, he averages 21.93 with an economy rate of 4.70 in 16 ODIs. Ellis will also need to prove himself on the faster, bouncier surfaces. Starc, however, supported his ability to execute, citing his time in Zimbabwe.
Over the past few years, I believe he has developed into a self-assured ODI bowler, and it’s wonderful to see him receive that reward in the series. According to Starc, who was cited by Cricinfo, “He probably led the attack in the absence of Josh playing one game, Pat and I weren’t over there, so really pushing his case as a lock as a pick in the one-day team and no doubt he’ll look to perform in these three as well.”
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Although he has only captained two matches since the 2023 World Cup, Cummins is still Australia’s official ODI captain. After Steven Smith retired in 2025, Mitchell Marsh assumed the role of ODI deputy. Prior to the 2027 World Cup, Cummins is anticipated to play and captain very few games, having led in just four ODIs in the run-up to the 2023 tournament. Due to his huge Test workload, he is scheduled to be controlled in this series as well as Australia’s next two ODI series, against New Zealand in August and England in November.
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There is little pace coverage of Australia in South Africa. The only other quick on the team is Xavier Bartlett, who participated in two of the three ODIs in Zimbabwe. Spencer Johnson has been sent home to rest ahead of Australia A’s three 50-over matches in India at the beginning of October, while Billy Stanlake has missed the tour due to a side injury.
Due in part to Cameron Green’s shoulder condition, which prevented him from participating in all three ODIs in Zimbabwe, all-rounder Jack Edwards has been flown in as extra backup. Alex Carey will be under the most pressure to hold onto his spot in Australia’s middle order if Green makes a comeback for the Durban game.
