SA v Aus ODIs 2026 – Australia captain Pat Cummins likely to miss first ODI with quicks prioritising Test preparations

Australia ODI captain Pat Cummins appears likely to miss the first match of the series against South Africa in Durban on Thursday after arriving later to South Africa than Mitchell Starc, with Australia’s Test quicks set to be managed across the three-game series as their preparation for the upcoming Test series is prioritised.

Cummins and Starc both missed the ODI tour of Zimbabwe as part of their preparation for the upcoming Tests against South Africa. The preceding three-match ODI series in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom serves as important reconnaissance for Australia ahead of the 2027 World Cup but the trio of quicks will not be pushed through all three games over seven days with the Tests that follow being more immediately vital in the race for the World Test Championship final.

Josh Hazlewood played just one in the three-match Zimbabwe series as part of a management plan and it’s possible that he and Starc could play the first and third ODIs in South Africa, with Cummins playing the middle game as his lone outing, as Australia look to avoid playing their Test quicks in back-to-back matches with travel days in between.

The flow-on affect will be twofold. Nathan Ellis was Australia’s best bowler in Zimbabwe and will likely play all three in South Africa if the appearances of the three Test quicks are staggered. Starc acknowledged Ellis was pushing to be in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI for the World Cup next year.

“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,” Starc said in Durban after training on Tuesday.

“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.”

How Ellis can play when all three are available is a key question given the role he plays in the side as a first-change, back-end of the powerplay, middle-overs and death specialist is the one that closest matches the ODI skipper in Cummins.

Hazlewood and Starc are Australia’s new-ball wicket-takers and Hazlewood is not as good a death bowler as the other three and is scarcely used in the role having only bowled 30 deliveries in the death overs in 11 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup.

Whether Cummins and Ellis could play in the same team when all three are available remains to be seen. Ellis will also have a point to prove in South Africa this week as his record on the faster, bouncier surfaces in South Africa and Australia is not as good as on lower, slower surfaces elsewhere. He averages 55.37 with an economy rate of 6.11 in nine ODIs in those conditions, compared to 21.93 and 4.70 in 16 ODIs across India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Zimbabwe.

The second element of Cummins’ management over the series will be the captaincy. Cummins remains the official ODI captain but has only led in two games since the 2023 World Cup.

Mitchell Marsh has taken over as the ODI deputy since the retirement of Steven Smith in 2025. Cummins only led in four ODIs in the lead-up to the 2023 World Cup and it appears likely he will play and captain very few games ahead of the 2027 edition. He will be managed in this series, as well as Australia’s next two ODI series in November against England and next August against New Zealand due his heavy Test load.

Australia only has one other back-up quick in South Africa in Xavier Bartlett who played two of the three ODIs in Zimbabwe. Billy Stanlake has left the tour due to a side strain while Spencer Johnson has also 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, in part for Cameron Green who has been nursing a shoulder issue that kept him out of all three ODIs in Zimbabwe. If Green does return in Durban it will create a squeeze in Australia’s middle-order with Alex Carey under the most pressure to keep his place.

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