Ahead of the upcoming Ashes series, Australia is set to take on New Zealand and India in a white-ball series in the coming months. While the team from Down Under will travel to new Zealand for a three-match
T20I series, the Men in Blue will then travel to Australia for a white-ball tour in October 2025. But just over a month left for the T20I series against New Zealand, the Australian team have been handed a massive setback.
Star Aussie bowling all-rounder Pat Cummins, is reportedly set to miss the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. However, there hasn’t been any confirmation on the same, but it comes at a crucial juncture where Cricket Australia looks to manage the workload of their red-ball captain ahead of the home Ashes series. Notably, Cummins also missed the white-ball series against South Africa.
Pat Cummins to miss New Zealand T20I series; to return for India series: Reports
Cummins, who was last seen playing in the Caribbean, was reportedly set to undergo routine scans on his back after experiencing tightness. However, Cricket Australia hasn’t given a clarity on the same, but their decision to rest Cummins comes in order to keep him fit for the five-match Ashes series. While he set to miss the New Zealand series, he remains likely to return for India ODIs and also play one Sheffield Shield fixture.
Speaking on Australia plan to manage its pacers, premiere pacer Josh Hazlewood said, "The Test guys will play more than one Shield game." "They'll probably play two or three, but everyone's on different programs. I used it last year and found it very beneficial - time on the field, multiple spells in a day, it's hard to replicate at training,” Hazlewood told reporters.
“It felt like over the last 12 months the best way for me to go about it is just keep ticking over, keep playing, not having too long off bowling. If I can just stay up there at match intensity as long as I can, that's the best way forward,” Hazlewood added. Speaking of Australia’s New Zealand tour, the side will lock horns in three T20Is, which will be played on October 1, 3 and 4 in Mount Maunganui.
