Australia is gearing up for several ODI assignments, with the ODI World Cup 2027 looming on the horizon; the various teams are hard at work preparing for the tournament. However, the Australian cricket team is looking at the upcoming ODI matches as preparation for their red-ball side.
It is interesting to note that Australia is set to take on Zimbabwe in a three-game series; the two sides will meet across three ODIs on September 15,18, and 20, which will be followed by an ODI series against South Africa, and ahead of the series, skipper Pat Cummins is looking to use those games as a way to gear up for the Test assignments.
Speaking on the same, Cummins came forward and hinted at missing the Zimbabwe ODIs and claimed that the focus remains set on red-ball cricket despite the upcoming games.
"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. 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,” Cummins was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Will Starc and Hazlewood be available for the ODI matches?
Furthermore, another major talking point would be the availability of star pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the upcoming ODI series against Zimbabwe and South Africa. While Cummins claimed that Test cricket is the priority, there will still be plans made around the ODI World Cup 2027. Both Starc and Hazlewood will be expected to feature for Australia as they take on South Africa.
Speaking on the upcoming series, Cummins heaped praise on the Proteas, branding them as a very strong side. "They're a really strong side. 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,” Cummins said.
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