Last Updated on 28 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Australia have confirmed their ODI squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. The world champions will play three matches in each country and will serve as key preparation for next year’s World Cup.
The three matches against Zimbabwe will be played at Harare Sports Club. Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom will play host to the South Africa-Australia series.
Australia ODI squad for tour of Africa
Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (South Africa only), Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Oliver Peake, Matt Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (South Africa only), Adam Zampa
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will only be available for the South Africa series. Josh Hazlewood has been named in the squad for both series.
Following Australia’s win against Bangladesh in Mackay, Cummins said he will use the ODIs to prepare for the Tests.
“We’ll probably all have, I imagine, a week or two off bowling, still do your gym work, and then we’ll start building up for that series. I’ll probably have an extra week here if I don’t play the Zimbabwe tour. I think I’ll be part of at least some of the South Africa ODIs,” said Cummins.
“I’m not sure I should say this, but I think the focus is on the Test series. So a lot of the white-ball [series], and how we play that, would be with an eye on the red ball. So I’d imagine it’d be one, two, and probably a maximum of three games out of those six [against Zimbabwe and South Africa].”
Spencer Johnson is one notable return following a back injury. The left-arm fast bowler is key to Australia’s plans moving forward especially in white-ball cricket, so an injury-free run is vital.
Youngsters Oliver Peake and Cooper Connolly get another chance to impress. The latter struck 149 in his last ODI against Bangladesh in June.
Marnus Labuschagne, however, has been dropped.
The three-match series against Zimbabwe kicks off on September 15, followed by the South Africa series which starts on September 24.
