Pat Cummins is preparing to use Australia’s upcoming ODI assignments as an important platform toward the longer Test campaign against South Africa. Cummins remains Australia’s ODI captain, despite having featured only twice in the format since guiding the team to their 2023 World Cup win over India in Ahmedabad.
His limited involvement saw Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis take responsibility for leading the side. Steve Smith has since also retired from ODI cricket. Meanwhile, the schedule now provides Cummins with an opportunity to return to ODIs before attention turns completely toward Test cricket. Australia are due to begin their tour of South Africa with a three-match ODI series, giving Cummins valuable match time ahead of the longer format.
"I think I'll be part of at least some of it. I'm not sure I should say this, but think the focus is on the Test series. So a lot of the white-ball, 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 said at the press conference after Australia’s win against Bangladesh.
Before going to South Africa, however, Australia have another ODI assignment in Zimbabwe, where they will play three matches, scheduled for September 15, 18 and 20. But Cummins suggested that he may not be part of that tour.
"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,” he said.