Australia coach reveals why Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood were left out of Pakistan ODIs

Australia have sent a patchwork squad to Pakistan for the upcoming three-match ODI series. Most of their regulars are not a part of the series, including most notably the team’s pace trio; Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. 

Australia rest their pace trio

While the pacers, as well as some other players, are busy with their Indian Premier League commitments, Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald said the players, especially the pace trio, would have been rested regardless to prepare them for a demanding schedule ahead.

“I think people look at the immediate games and go, ‘Well, why aren’t they playing there?’” McDonald said.

“But if you actually work back from 2027 and look at what we’ve got coming up, this is the last significant break that we get to invest into their bodies to set themselves up to get all the way through to 2027. We are planning for them to be there in 2027,” he added.

Australia look to avoid any injury setbacks

The three fast bowlers have not played an ODI game together since November 2024, a year after they won Australia their sixth ODI World Cup. During the campaign, Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood shared 47 wickets between them during the World Cup, and Australia have no reason not to bank their hopes on them again. However, McDonald stressed that keeping them fit remains the priority.

“We have done this before in 2023. The biggest difference is we’re four years older.

“I think we’re well placed if we’re fit and healthy, and that’s going to be the biggest challenge. How do we get the players through that demand? How do we manage them, particularly our fast bowlers?

“We are getting older, so that’s going to create some different management challenges. They’ve been incredibly robust, but a few have had some recent injury setbacks, so it’s something we need to invest a lot of time into,” he concluded.

Australia and Pakistan will begin their ODI series on May 30 in Rawalpindi. Following the first ODI, the two teams will travel to Lahore for the next two matches on June 2 and June 4.

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