Last Updated on 2 hours ago by Charbel Coorey
Australians including Mitch Marsh and Adam Zampa – and potentially others – could be faced with a tricky decision during The Hundred in 2027.
According to a CODE Sports report, Australia and New Zealand are tentatively scheduled to play three ODIs in the Top End in August next year. Should these matches go ahead, they will clash with the latter stages of The Hundred.
The Hundred vs. international cricket could see its next international showdown with ODIs a chance of taking place in August 2027
These matches are seen as important final preparations before the ODI World Cup which is scheduled to begin on October 4. However, both Australia and New Zealand may be forced to play without at least some of their top line talent depending who features in next season’s edition of The Hundred.
But it remains to be seen if the all-format players feature in the New Zealand series regardless. The 2027 Ashes series comes to a close in early August, the end of a marathon 20 Tests (potentially 21) over a 12-month period.
Fitness pending, the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head and Cameron Green could potentially be given time off to ensure they are fit and ready to go for the World Cup.
It will be interesting to see if white-ball specialists Mitch Marsh (Sunrisers Leeds) and Adam Zampa (London Spirit) will feature in the New Zealand matches.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Australian players opted out of The Hundred to play Tests against Bangladesh. ODIs may be a different story, despite the close proximity to the World Cup.
“Some of our guys are saying no to a half a million pounds for 20 days’ work to go and play those two Test matches against Bangladesh,” Cummins said on The Business of Sport podcast in March.
“It’s at a tension point. It has been for a while, but I think it’s only growing.
“Something we speak about is how do we make sure we’ve got our best Australian guys to choose from when we’re picking a Test side or an ODI side, because there is so much demand for them elsewhere.”
Clashes between international cricket and T20 leagues around the world is a growing issue. The World Cricketers’ Association has called for a more streamlined calendar with set windows. Time will tell as to when – or if – that becomes reality.
