Australia ODI captain Pat Cummins is likely to miss the first match of the three-game series against South Africa in Durban on Thursday. Cummins arrived in South Africa later than Mitchell Starc, and Australia’s Test quicks are set to be managed carefully across the series as preparation for the upcoming Test series takes priority.
Both Cummins and Starc missed the ODI tour of Zimbabwe as part of their preparation for the upcoming Tests against South Africa. Josh Hazlewood played just one of the three matches in Zimbabwe under a management plan. One possible rotation for South Africa has Hazlewood and Starc playing the first and third ODIs, with Cummins appearing in the middle game as his lone outing, allowing Australia to avoid playing their Test quicks in back-to-back matches with travel days in between.
As reported by Cricinfo, Cummins flagged last month that he could play as few as one of the three ODIs in the lead-in to the Test series. The three-match series, to be played in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom, serves as important reconnaissance for Australia ahead of the 2027 World Cup, but the team will not push their Test quicks through all three games across seven days given the Tests that follow are more immediately vital in the race for the World Test Championship final.
What does Cummins’ management mean for Nathan Ellis?
Nathan Ellis was Australia’s best bowler in Zimbabwe and is likely to play all three ODIs in South Africa if the appearances of the three Test quicks are staggered. Starc acknowledged after training in Durban on Tuesday that Ellis was pushing to be in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI for the 2027 World Cup.
However, how Ellis fits into the XI when all three Test quicks are available remains an open question. His role as a first-change, back-end of the powerplay, middle-overs and death specialist most closely matches that of Cummins in the ODI side. Hazlewood and Starc are Australia’s primary new-ball wicket-takers, and Hazlewood has bowled only 30 deliveries in the death overs across 11 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup.
Ellis will also need to prove himself on the faster, bouncier surfaces in South Africa, where he averages 55.37 with an economy rate of 6.11 in nine ODIs, compared to an average of 21.93 and economy of 4.70 in 16 ODIs on lower, slower surfaces across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Zimbabwe. However, Starc backed him to be able to perform, referencing his run in Zimbabwe.
“I think he’s grown into himself as a confident ODI bowler over the last few years, and it’s great to see him get that reward in the series. He probably led the attack in the absence of Josh playing one game, Pat and I not 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,” Starc said, as quoted by Cricinfo.
Who leads Australia and what is the squad cover situation?
Cummins remains Australia’s official ODI captain but has led in only two games since the 2023 World Cup. Mitchell Marsh has taken over as ODI deputy following Steven Smith’s retirement in 2025. Cummins led in just four ODIs in the build-up to the 2023 World Cup, and he is expected to play and captain very few games ahead of the 2027 edition. He is set to be managed in this series and in Australia’s next two ODI series, against England in November and against New Zealand next August, due to his heavy Test workload.
Australia’s pace cover in South Africa is limited. Xavier Bartlett, who played two of the three ODIs in Zimbabwe, is the only other quick in the squad. Billy Stanlake has left the tour with a side strain, and Spencer Johnson has been sent home to rest before three 50-over games for Australia A in India at the start of October.
Allrounder Jack Edwards has been flown in as added cover, partly for Cameron Green, who has been managing a shoulder issue that kept him out of all three ODIs in Zimbabwe. If Green returns for the Durban match, it is expected to create a squeeze in Australia’s middle order, with Alex Carey under the most pressure to retain his place.
