Australia rest Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood for England white-ball series

Australia have omitted Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood from both squads for their upcoming white-ball series against England, resting the fast-bowling trio ahead of a heavy Test workload. According to the Guardian’s report on Monday, the teams will play three one-day internationals and five T20 internationals, with Mitchell Marsh named captain of both Australian squads.

Watch the highlights:

The decision comes before a stretch of 10 Tests in 14 weeks. Australia’s schedule includes four Tests against New Zealand, five in India and the 150th anniversary Test against England. Selection chair George Bailey said the transition from the South Africa tour into the England white-ball matches left limited preparation time for the New Zealand series. He also said the Test players would spend more than 100 days on the road from their assembly in Perth to the anniversary match.

Australia will also manage Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Cameron Green through the T20 period after tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa. Bailey said preparation for the New Zealand series would be tailored to individual players, with attention to both physical readiness and mental freshness. All five are included in the ODI squad but are absent from the announced T20 group.

Western Australian fast bowler Mahli Beardman has been selected for both formats after impressing for Australia A. Having already played one T20 international, he is in line for his ODI debut. Bailey said selectors saw potential for Beardman to develop across all formats. Jack Edwards also earned selection in both squads following his performances in South Africa and domestic cricket, while Spencer Johnson and Liam Scott return to the ODI group.

Nathan Ellis has not recovered from a side strain in time for the one-day series, although he is listed in the T20 squad. That group also includes Tim David and returning opening batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, selected for Australia’s T20 team for the first time since 2025. New South Wales batter Lachlan Shaw receives his first T20 squad call-up after performances on Australia A’s India tour and in the Big Bash League.

The selections also sit within Australia’s longer-term white-ball planning. The ODI team is building towards its World Cup title defence in Africa in 2027, while the T20 programme has the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and T20 World Cup as future targets, the Guardian reported.