New South Wales allrounder Jack Edwards has been called up to Australia’s ODI squad for the upcoming series in South Africa after fast bowler Billy Stanlake suffered a tour-ending side injury. Spencer Johnson has simultaneously been released from the touring group to manage his workload.
Stanlake sustained the side injury during his fifth over in the second match of Australia’s three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. Australia went on to win that series 3-0, clinching the final game by one wicket on Sunday. Johnson played in two of the three Zimbabwe matches and helped Nathan Ellis secure victory in the deciding game with the bat before being given a break.
Australia travelled to South Africa on Monday ahead of a three-match ODI series that begins in Durban on Thursday, September 24. Further matches are scheduled in Johannesburg and Potchefstroom before attention turns to the Test series. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will join the squad for the South Africa leg, bolstering the pace resources.
Why has Australia called up an allrounder rather than a specialist fast bowler?
The decision to add Edwards, an allrounder, rather than a specialist pace replacement is notable given that Cameron Green missed the entire Zimbabwe series with a shoulder problem. However, concerns around Green have been played down in recent days, and he has trained during the Harare leg of the tour. The arrival of Cummins and Starc also means Australia’s pace stocks are strengthened regardless of Green’s availability.
The multi-format fast bowlers are expected to be rotated throughout the South Africa series. Josh Hazlewood, for instance, played just once during the Zimbabwe leg, underlining the careful management of workloads across the touring group.
What is Edwards’ international background ahead of this call-up?
Edwards made his international debut in the T20I series against Pakistan earlier this year but remains uncapped in ODIs, though he was briefly added to the squad against India last season. He was with the Australia A side in India for their two-match four-day series against India A when the call-up arrived.
Edwards was recently replaced as New South Wales captain, with the state indicating he wanted to focus on his own game. With Edwards now unavailable for Australia A duties, Liam Scott takes the allrounder’s role at number seven in the A-side. Peter Handscomb will captain Australia A in their opening four-day match against India A, with Nathan McSweeney allowed to focus on his batting.
Handscomb, 35, was included in the Australia A tour with an eye on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January and February of 2027. Johnson, who spent a considerable amount of time sidelined with a back injury in 2025 and early 2026, is being given a break before the 50-over leg of the Australia A tour of India, where he was initially the only crossover between the two squads.
