Australia's Test captain Pat Cummins, along with veteran fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, have been omitted from the white-ball squads selected to face England this month. This decision comes as Australia prepares for the Ashes series, scheduled to begin just seven months from now.
Cummins, 33, has reportedly been grappling with a technical issue affecting his bowling speed, evidenced by a reduced effectiveness in recent series. He will use the upcoming period to regain rhythm, focusing on home Tests against New Zealand rather than participating in the eight limited-overs fixtures against England.
Hazlewood has also been left out of both the One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) squads. Starc, a left-arm seamer, has already retired from the T20 format. The exclusion of this experienced bowling trio mirrors a selection strategy seen in England, where players like Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, and Gus Atkinson were rested to prepare for their own tours.
Australia's selection policy appears to be prioritizing player availability for key upcoming series. Mitchell Marsh has increasingly taken on leadership roles in limited-overs formats, serving as the de facto captain in Cummins's absence due to workload management and past injuries, including a stress fracture of the back.
Younger players are being given opportunities, with 21-year-old Mahli Beardman named in both squads. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsmen Sam Harper and Lachlan Shaw have also been included for the T20 series. Nathan Ellis returns to the T20 squad after a side strain, and Liam Scott has been recalled for the ODI series.
In separate news concerning England players, fast bowler Mark Wood, whose Ashes participation was also impacted by injury, has joined the England Lions' coaching team in the Caribbean. Wood, who retired from international cricket in September due to a knee injury, will mentor bowlers and contribute to media work. Meanwhile, England Lions batsman Asa Tribe has been denied entry to Saint Kitts & Nevis due to recent travel to Kenya, where an Ebola virus outbreak raised health concerns, imposing a 21-day entry restriction for non-nationals.