Cummins eyes ODI return in build towards Proteas Tests

Pat Cummins will make a long-awaited return to the national one-day side as preparation for Australia's three-Test tour of South Africa in October.

Cummins, Australia's ODI captain, has featured in only two of 28 matches in the format since leading his side to the 2023 World Cup title against India in Ahmedabad.

However, with Australian domestic cricket not ramping up until the end of September, the three-match ODI series in South Africa on September 24, 27 and October 1 loom as the perfect tune-up for the subsequent Test series against the same opponent.

The Aussies are also slated to play three ODIs against Zimbabwe in Harare from September 15-20, giving the squad a rare opportunity to play matches in the conditions they will face at next year's World Cup.

Aided by finishing the Mackay Test three days early, Cummins admitted he had an eye on some time at home in Sydney (which he hinted could extend if he sits out of the Zimbabwe ODIs) and will have "a week or two off bowling" before ramping up once again.

"I think I'll be part of at least some of it," Cummins said of the bilateral 50-over series against the Proteas.

"I'm not sure I should say this, but the focus is the Test series.

"So with a lot of the (upcoming) white-ball (matches), how we play that would be with an eye to the red ball.

"I'd imagine (I would play) one, two or maximum three games out of those six (ODIs)."

Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood said post-match they also expect to play some of the 50-over series while Mitch Starc said on Fox Cricket he would "do what he's told".

The tour marks Australia's first trip to South Africa for Tests since the infamous 2018 series which ended in a ball-tampering sandpaper scandal.

It will also be the first time since last year's World Test Championship decider that the two finalists have met in the format, after the Proteas won the title with a five-wicket triumph at Lord's.

Of the Australians, only Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw (who was parachuted in following the Cape Town fiasco) have played Test cricket in the country, which the captain said added to the challenge of the assignment.

"(These are) places we haven't played Test cricket for a while, so conditions are always a little bit unknown," Cummins said.

"Even the difference between Durban to Cape Town, they could be quite different styles of pitches.

"It's going to be great. That's why I love playing Test cricket. All different conditions, different opponents, different parts of the world."

The Test series in South Africa begins in Durban on October 9 before moving clockwise around the coast of the country to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and Cape Town.

Qantas Tour of Zimbabwe & South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: v Zimbabwe, September 15, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)

Second ODI: v Zimbabwe, September 18, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)

Third ODI: v Zimbabwe, September 20, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)

First ODI: v South Africa, September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second ODI: v South Africa, September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Third ODI: v South Africa, September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (D/N)

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second Test: October 18-22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town

Register your interest for South African tour packages with Cricket Australia's Travel Office